Kon Knueppel scored 29 points, and Brandon Miller added 25 points and a career-high 13 rebounds as the visiting Charlotte Hornets pitched a shutout in overtime, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 on Dec. 14.
Miles Bridges collected 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Charlotte, which blew a 17-point lead in the second half. The Hornets won for just the second time in their last six games and are 6-17 since Oct. 28.
Advertisement
Darius Garland scored a season-high 26 points and Donovan Mitchell had 17 points on 6-of-24 shooting for the Cavaliers. Jaylon Tyson added 16 points and a career-best 13 rebounds off the bench for Cleveland, which lost for the sixth time in nine games.
Mitchell missed a jumper from the right wing as time expired in regulation, sending the game to overtime at 111-111. Tyson had scored four straight points to put the Cavaliers up 111-108 before Miller made the tying 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left.
Miller made two free throws to start OT, which was all the offense Charlotte needed. The Cavaliers missed all 10 of their field-goal attempts in the extra period, with Garland and Mitchell combining for six of them. Cleveland became the 12th team to be blanked in overtime, the first since the Chicago Bulls against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 7, 2015.
Charlotte threatened to pull away early in the third, going up 78-61 on Knueppel’s third 3-pointer, but the Cavaliers eventually went in front 99-98 on a Dean Wade 3-pointer midway through the fourth. It was a back-and-forth battle from there.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) is defended by Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) on Dec. 14, 2025, in Cleveland.
The Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, Knueppel, made 11 of 19 field-goal attempts in 44 minutes and Hornets point guard Sion James had nine points and seven rebounds. Miller also had six assists.
Advertisement
Cleveland center Jarrett Allen had nine points and three rebounds in his return from a six-game absence with a right third finger strain. Wade had 14 points and eight boards while starting for injured power forward Evan Mobley.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) shoots against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 14, 2025, in Cleveland.
Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, will miss two to four weeks with a strained left calf he suffered Dec. 12 against the Washington Wizards. Mobley is averaging 19.1 points and 9.3 rebounds in a team-high 25 games.
Charlotte was without five rotation players: guards LaMelo Ball (left ankle bruise), Collin Sexton (left quadriceps strain) and Tre Mann (right knee bruise), center Grant Williams (right knee surgery) and forward Pat Connaughton (right calf strain).
Advertisement
Hornets coach Charles Lee said Ball, Sexton and Mann will be re-evaluated Monday in Charlotte.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Donovan Mitchell misses potential game-winner in Cavs loss to Hornets