CLEVELAND (AP) — Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 22 and the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 6-0 with a 120-109 victory Friday night over the Orlando Magic, who played their first game without injured All-Star Paolo Banchero. The Cavs are the only unbeaten team in the Eastern Conference. The last time Cleveland started 6-0 was in 2016 with LeBron James.
The club’s best start was 8-0 in 1976. The early meeting between Orlando and Cleveland was a rematch of last season’s tense opening-round playoff series won by the Cavs in seven games. Banchero is expected to miss at least a month — and maybe longer — with a torn right oblique.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft was on an early tear, averaging 29 points with 8.8 rebounds and 5.
6 assists before getting hurt Wednesday. Orlando’s Jalen Suggs scored a career-high 28 points and had eight rebounds and seven assists. Franz Wagner had 17 points.
Cleveland rookie Luke Travers made his NBA debut. The Australian scored four points in garbage time. KNICKS 128, PISTONS 98 DETROIT (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 15 of his 36 points in the first quarter as New York beat Detroit for their 16th straight victory over the Pistons.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for New York, which never trailed and led by at least 20 points for the final 40 minutes. OG Anunoby scored 21 points as the Knicks’ starters scored 106 points. Cade Cunningham had 22 points for the Pistons, who fal.