Evan Mobley almost single-handedly helped the Cleveland Cavaliers maintain the best record in the NBA on Saturday.
The fourth-year forward scored a career-high 41 points – shooting 6 of 8 from 3-point range – with 10 rebounds and three blocks in Cavs win 116-102 on the road on the Charlotte Frelons.
With their fourth straight victory, the Cavaliers improved to 21-3, 1.5 upcoming games of the Boston Celtics (19-4) for the best record in the NBA.
Mobley’s previous career high was 38, set for January 2023 against the Milwaukee Bucks. (Interestingly, he didn’t make any 3-pointers in that game, shooting 0 of 2.) And the most 3s he had made before in a game was three. He surpassed that in the first quarter against Charlotte, hitting five shots from long range.
The scoring barrage began in the first quarter with Mobley scoring 23 points, tied for third place in a first game by a Cavs player in team history. (Kevin Love brand 34 against Portland in 2016while LeBron James account 24 in 2008 against the Chicago Bulls.)
Mobley dominated the Hornets on his own in the first quarter as Cleveland took a 40-18 lead in the first 12 minutes.
Mobley’s achievement was also notable because of his age. At age 23, he is one of two players to record 40+ points, 10+ rebounds, 3+ blocks, and 5+ 3-pointers in a game when he was under 25 years old. The only other NBA player to do this is Kevin Durant, according to StatMuse.
Durant accomplished this feat in a match from December 8, 2008 when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder play it Warriors of the Golden State. He scored 41 points. 10 rebounds and three blocks, while shooting 6 of 10 over 3s.
The Hornets are devastated by injuries in their frontcourt, and that was made clear by Mobley. Marc Williams returned to the lineup earlier this week and scored 12 points on Saturday. But Miles Bridges (bone bruise), Moussa Diabaté (disease), Tidjane Salaün (ankle sprain) and Nick Richards (sprained ankle) all missed Saturday’s game. Grant Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Charlotte was also without a top scorer Ball LaMelowho is put aside with a strain in the left calf. At 6-16, the Hornets have the second-worst record in the East.
Donovan Mitchell And Garland of Darius each scored 18 for Cleveland. Mitchell also grabbed eight rebounds, while Jarrett Allen I have 10 boards. Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 25 points.
The Celtics host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday evening. Cleveland travels to face the Miami Heat (10-10) Sunday.
