Cavaliers overcome second-half deficit, top Grizzlies after Ja Morant’s exit

Donovan Mitchell scored 14 points and made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Cleveland Cavaliers came from behind to beat the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 108-100 on Saturday.

Mitchell, a six-time All-Star, finished with 30 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points and 13 rebounds. The Cavaliers rallied from an 11-point deficit, taking their first lead since midway through the first on a Mitchell 3-pointer with 6:34 remaining.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 26 points and Santi Aldama had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost four in a row. Point guard Ja Morant exited after six minutes with a sore right calf and didn’t return, finishing with seven points and two assists.

Zach Edey, who had left ankle surgery in June, totaled 13 points and seven rebounds in his season debut for Memphis. The 7-foot-3 center from Purdue was the ninth overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Edey had eight points in the third as Memphis maintained a double-digit lead for most of the quarter before the Cavaliers closed within 84-76. Mitchell scored six in the surge.

Mitchell and Jackson both scored 10 points in the first, when the Grizzlies jumped in front by 10 and held a 32-28 advantage after the quarter. Memphis extended its lead to 42-31 on an Aldama hoop early in the second and was ahead 61-54 at the break.

Jackson had 17 points and made 10-of-11 free throw attempts in the first half, while Aldama had 10 points and eight rebounds. Mobley paced Cleveland with 11 points, but his team was outscored by 16 points in his 15 minutes.

The Grizzlies could ill afford to lose Morant for an extended period as forward Brandon Clarke (right knee surgery) and guards Ty Jerome (right calf strain) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (left great toe surgery) have been inactive all season. Point guard Javon Small (left turf toe) will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

–Field Level Media