National Basketball Association
Cleveland 128, Memphis 113
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, February 2, 2023
Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio
Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #45 Brian Forte, #17 Jonathan Sterling
Attendance: 19432

Darius Garland had 32 points and 11 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame star Donovan Mitchell's third-quarter ejection to beat the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 128-113 on Thursday.

Cedi Osman scored 21 points for Cleveland, which moved 10 games over .500 and improved to 22-6 at home. Jarrett Allen contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, Evan Mobley tallied 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Ricky Rubio scored 13.

Desmond Bane scored 25 points for Memphis, while Ja Morant added 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Santi Aldama had a career-high 21 points plus 10 rebounds, while Brandon Clarke scored 10.

The Grizzlies have lost six straight road games and seven of their last eight overall.

With 5:48 left in the third quarter and the Cavaliers leading by five, Mitchell and Memphis' Dillon Brooks were ejected following a tussle under the basket.

Mitchell had six points on 2-of-11 shooting, while Brooks left with nine points.

Cleveland carried a 99-87 lead into the fourth quarter before scoring the first five points of the period for its largest lead of the game to that point.

Memphis trailed 118-98 midway through the fourth quarter after Rubio scored eight points during a 13-5 run.

Garland scored 14 points in the first quarter to help Cleveland take a 30-26 lead.

Morant headed to the bench after picking up his third foul with 4:26 left in the half and the Grizzlies trailing by six. Cleveland capitalized with a 14-7 run to close the half and entered the break with a 67-54 advantage.

Aldama started in place of Jaren Jackson Jr. (right thigh soreness) and scored 16 points in the first half. Garland had 19 points to lead all scorers.

Cleveland avenged a 115-114 loss to Memphis on Jan. 18 by shooting 53.8 percent, including 14 of 29 (48.3 percent) from 3-point range.

Cleveland played without guard Caris LeVert, who is listed as day-to-day with right hamstring soreness.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Memphis   Cleveland
Desmond Bane 25 Scoring Darius Garland 32
Ja Morant 8 Assists Darius Garland 11
Santi Aldama 10 Rebounds Evan Mobley 14
Ja Morant 6 Free Throws Made Darius Garland 6
Tyus Jones 2 Steals Isaac Okoro 3
Xavier Tillman 2 Blocks Jarrett Allen 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Memphis 113 47.1 10-23 21-22 22 44 5 8 18
Cleveland 128 53.8 14-29 16-22 33 41 7 12 16
Upcoming Games
  • Cleveland will play their next game on the road against Indiana. The Cavaliers have a W/L % of .548 after a win and .652 after a loss.
  • Memphis will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Grizzlies have a W/L % of .697 after a win and .474 after a loss.