Coast-to-Coast: Donovan Mitchell lights up for 43; Magic, Heat continue to hit stride

Momentum builds for the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat in the East, with Donovan Mitchell’s latest scoring explosion for the Cleveland Cavaliers taking the center stage on a busy NBA nine-game Tuesday slate.

MITCHELL FIRES 45 OVER PACERS; HEAT, MAGIC STAY SHARP 

• Cleveland Cavaliers (13-9) def. Indiana Pacers (4-17), 135-119: In this East semifinal rematch, Donovan Mitchell wreaked havoc with 43 points to help the Cavaliers snap a three-game losing streak.

Mitchell scored 16 of those points in the fourth quarter alone, marking his 32nd career 40-point game, while also contributing nine rebounds and six assists in just 34 minutes of action.

• Miami Heat (14-7) def. LA Clippers (5-16), 140-123: Norman Powell made six of Miami’s 24 threes, tying a franchise record and helping the Heat hand the Clippers their sixth consecutive defeat.

Miami led by as many as 38 points and rolled to its seventh victory in the last eight games to gain a share of the East third spot with the Toronto Raptors. 

• Orlando Magic (13-8) def. Chicago Bulls (5-16), 140-123: Desmond Bane poured in 37 points for the second straight game, powering the Magic to their ninth win in 11 outings after holding off the Bulls.

With another explosive performance, Bane became the first Orlando player to record back-to-back 35-point games since Tracy McGrady in 2004.

• Detroit Pistons (17-4) def. Atlanta Hawks (13-9), 99-98: Despite a rough shooting from deep and turnover-prone outing, East no.1 Pistons relied on Cade Cunningham’s late takeover to turn back the stubborn Hawks. 

[ALSO READ: NBA: Late Cade Cunningham takeover lifts East-leading Pistons past Jalen Johnson-led Hawks]

• Washington Wizards (3-16) def. Milwaukee Bucks (9-14), 129-126: After a 14-game losing streak, CJ McCollum and the Wizards have now won two of their last three games. 

McCollum finished with 28 points, including a dagger three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining that secured a rare home victory for Washington.

DAVIS DROPS 32-13 DOUBLE-DOUBLE ; SUNS COOL OFF LAKERS

• Dallas Mavericks (7-15) def. Denver Nuggets (14-6), 131-121: Anthony Davis posted a dominant 32-point, 13-rebound outing as the Mavericks survived another wild Nikola Jokic outing and his Nuggets. 

Jokic ended up with another absurd statline of 29 markers, 20 rebounds, and 13 dimes but the Nuggets now lost four straight games at home.

• Phoenix Suns (13-9) def. LA Lakers (15-5), 125-108: Dillon Brooks scored 23 of his 33 points in the first half as the Suns halted the Lakers’ seven-game winning run. 

[ALSO READ: Dillon Brooks, Suns overcome Luka Doncic’s 38 to end Lakers’ seven-game winning streak]

• Utah Jazz (7-13) def. Houston Rockets (13-5), 133-125: The Jazz redeemed itself from a 28-point loss to the Rockets after getting one back over Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Co.

Lauri Markkanen scored 29, and Keyonte George chipped in 28 as Utah improved to 6-6 at home this season. 

• Brooklyn Nets (4-16) def. Charlotte Hornets (6-15), 116-103: Michael Porter Jr. went off with 35 markers for his sixth 30-point outing as the Nets nailed their first home dub of the season at the Hornets’ expense. 

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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.

Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.