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Cavaliers spoil LeBron James’ return, riding big 3rd quarter to 129-99 romp

Cavaliers spoil LeBron James' return, riding big 3rd quarter to 129-99 romp | iNFOnews.ca
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James left, shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 25 points, Jaylon Tyson had 20 and the Cleveland Cavaliers used a big third quarter to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 129-99 and spoil LeBron James’ return to Northeast Ohio.

De’Andre Hunter added 19 points, and Jarrett Allen had 17 points and nine rebounds to help Cleveland to its season-best fifth straight victory.

James had only 11 points, the first time in 13 trips to Cleveland as an opposing player he has not had at least 20. The 41-year old Akron native was 3 of 10 from the field, including 0 of 3 on 3-pointers, and was 5 of 6 from the line in 27 minutes.

It also was James’ worst loss in Cleveland as a visiting player. He is 10-3, but has been on the losing end in his last two.

James teared up during a timeout with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter when the Cavaliers showed video highlights of him scoring 25 straight points during Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons.

Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 29 points. Los Angeles fell to 3-2 on its seven-game road trip.

Doncic missed six minutes in the first quarter after having his left ankle looked at in the locker room. Doncic tweaked his ankle when he landed awkwardly near the Lakers’ bench after attempting a 3-pointer.

Cleveland led 57-55 at halftime, but took control in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles by 20 (42-22). It was the 12th time this season that the Cavaliers scored at least 40 points in a period.

It was tied at 57 when the Cavaliers went on a 25-8 run where Mitchell scored eight points and Tyson added seven.

Cleveland was 6 of 22 on 3-pointers in the first half, but went 7 of 11 in the third. It also was 17 of 25 from the field in the period.

Up next

Lakers: At Washington on Friday night.

Cavaliers: At Phoenix on Friday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Cavaliers spoil LeBron James' return, riding big 3rd quarter to 129-99 romp | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots between Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, left, and center Deandre Ayton, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavaliers spoil LeBron James' return, riding big 3rd quarter to 129-99 romp | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, center, fights for control of the ball with Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, left, and center Jaxson Hayes, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavaliers spoil LeBron James' return, riding big 3rd quarter to 129-99 romp | iNFOnews.ca
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr., right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavaliers spoil LeBron James' return, riding big 3rd quarter to 129-99 romp | iNFOnews.ca
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) reach for a rebound in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Joe Reedy

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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