Cavaliers 128-100 Pelicans (Nov 20, 2024) Game Summary

CLEVELAND — — Ty Jerome scored 27 points in the first half and finished with a career-high 29 as the Cleveland Cavaliers never trailed in a 128-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

Jerome, starting in place of injured point guard Darius Garland, had 20 points in the second quarter and buried seven 3-pointers before halftime. Cleveland gets off to the best start in franchise history at 16-1.

Georges Niang added 20 points and first-round pick Jaylon Tyson had 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first pro start for the Cavaliers. Jarrett Allen had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Rookie forward Antonio Reeves, who averaged 2.9 points per game game, scored 34 points, and Brandon Boston Jr. had 14 points for the injury-plagued Pelicans.

Takeaways

Pelicans: Elfrid Payton was signed earlier in the day and appeared in his first NBA game since May 15, 2022 with Phoenix. Coach Willie Green started the 30-year-old point guard, who posted 11 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four turnovers.

Cavaliers: Cleveland bounced back from a 120-117 loss at Boston on Tuesday and led by as many as 34 points to remain unbeaten through nine home games. Donovan Mitchell played only 20 minutes and Evan Mobley only played 18 minutes.

Key moment

Jerome drained three long 3-pointers in a span of 62 seconds in the second quarter, turning Cleveland’s single-digit lead into a 67-51 advantage. The combined distance for the 3s was 101 feet.

Key state

New Orleans’ top six scorers — averaging 110.5 points — were out with injuries, forcing it to use all three of its two-way players. Forward Brandon Ingram sat out his first game with a bilateral ankle sprain.

Next

The Pelicans host Golden State on Friday, and the Cavaliers continue their three-game homestand on Sunday against Toronto.

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