Cavs keep climbing after another Donovan Mitchell takeover

Donovan Mitchell didn’t just lead the Cavaliers on Monday. He set the tone, hijacked the game, and dared the Orlando Magic to keep up.

They couldn’t.

Mitchell exploded for 45 points as the Cavs rolled to a 114-98 home win. In the process, they secured a fourth straight victory and second in a row over Orlando.

It was another reminder that when Mitchell gets rolling like this, the Cavs don’t just survive. They dictate.

The night started a little sideways. The Cavs fell into an early 10-point hole, turned the ball over six times in the first 10 minutes, and briefly looked like January’s sloppy version of itself. Without Darius Garland anchoring the offense, ball security remains a real thing.

But hey, no biggie. Eventually, Mitchell will probably take over. Monday served as another example.

He dropped 26 points in the first half, flipped the energy in Rocket Arena, and powered a 39-24 second quarter that swung the game for good. The Cavs (28-20) went into halftime up five and controlled the flow from there.

Once they settled down, the execution cleaned up. Only eight turnovers the rest of the game, a win on the glass (45-42), and better than 40 percent shooting from three. Do that consistently, and you win more often than not.

Mitchell was surgical late, torching defenses and rescuing broken possessions. This is the version the Cavs need. Not just a scorer, but a closer and tone-setter.

Evan Mobley stayed on his upward trend with 20 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, playing with growing confidence and force.

Jaylon Tyson, recently named to the 2026 Rising Stars Game, chipped in 14 points, seven boards, and four assists on 5-of-9 shooting. He’s now the first Cav on a standard deal to earn Rising Stars honors since Mobley, which speaks volumes.

The Magic (23-22) were led by Paolo Banchero‘s 37 points and 10 rebounds.

Anyway, the Cavs have won 11 of 15, and this is starting to feel less like a hot stretch and more like a team finding its rhythm. They are defending, scoring, and leaning into their identity.

Next up? The Lakers in Cleveland on Wednesday. That one will feel a little louder. A little brighter. And a little more like a litmus test.