#21 trendingNets vs. Cavaliers
Nets vs. Cavaliers: Cleveland holds off late Brooklyn surge to win home opener 125-121
Two nights after blowing a 29-point lead in Philadelphia, the Cleveland Cavaliers nearly let another one get away. This time they hung on. Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points, Jarrett Allen added 21 and Cleveland beat the Brooklyn Nets 125-121 in its home opener on Saturday night, Oct. 24, at Rocket Arena.
The Cavs led by 17 with about four minutes left. Brooklyn answered with a 22-7 run and pulled within 123-121 on Michael Porter Jr.’s fourth 3-pointer of the night with 8.1 seconds remaining, the Associated Press reported. Porter then fouled out, and Sam Merrill made both free throws to seal it.
Nets vs. Cavaliers final score and box score highlights
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nets | 30 | 24 | 26 | 41 | 121 |
| Cavaliers | 35 | 33 | 28 | 29 | 125 |
Cavaliers leaders: - Donovan Mitchell: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists - Jarrett Allen: 21 points (7 of 8 shooting), 8 rebounds - Evan Mobley: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks - Jaylon Tyson: 15 points off the bench - James Harden: 12 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists
Nets leaders: - Michael Porter Jr.: 28 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals - Julius Randle: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists - Egor Demin: 22 points, 15 of them in the fourth quarter - Chaney Johnson: 10 points off the bench
How Cleveland built the lead
The game was tight early. Cleveland led 45-44 in the second quarter before a 23-9 burst over roughly five minutes, with five points apiece from Mobley, Allen and Tyrese Proctor, the AP reported. Allen started that run with a 3-pointer, only the 21st of his 10-year career.
The Cavs led 68-54 at halftime and 96-80 after three quarters. A Jaylon Tyson 3-pointer made it 104-82 with 9:29 left.
Brooklyn’s late push
The Nets would not go quietly. Demin hit three 3-pointers in a 47-second span midway through the fourth to cut the gap to 11, according to the AP. Brooklyn outscored Cleveland 41-29 in the final quarter, and Johnson’s 3-pointer with 33 seconds left made it 120-116.
Cleveland’s free throws were the difference down the stretch. The Cavs went 29 of 38 from the line, including 11 of 15 in the fourth quarter, and shot 50.6% from the floor. Brooklyn made 23 of 27 free throws but shot under 40% from the field per the CBS Sports box score. The Nets did win the 3-point battle, hitting 20 of 49 to Cleveland’s 16 of 38, and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds.
Turnovers kept Brooklyn in it. Cleveland committed 23 of them, compared with 18 for the Nets.
Bouncing back from Philadelphia
The result was a relief after Thursday’s opener, when Cleveland led Philadelphia by 29 and lost 114-106. The Cavs are now 1-1, while Brooklyn falls to 0-2.
The AP noted that Cleveland has won four of its last five home openers and has beaten Brooklyn eight straight times.
FAQ
Who won Nets vs. Cavaliers?
The Cavaliers won 125-121 on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Cleveland.
Who led the Cavs in scoring?
Donovan Mitchell, with 22 points. Jarrett Allen had 21 and Evan Mobley had 20.
Who led the Nets?
Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points. Julius Randle had 23 and Egor Demin 22.
How many points did Chaney Johnson score?
The Nets reserve had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, including a late 3-pointer that cut the lead to four.
When do the Cavs play next?
Cleveland hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, according to the AP.
When do the Nets play next?
Brooklyn hosts the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.