Caris LeVert scores 26, leads Cavaliers to 129-113 victory over Jazz

By JOHN COON

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Caris LeVert scored 26 points and Jarrett Allen had 21 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Utah Jazz 129-113 on Tuesday night.

LeVert started in place of Donovan Mitchell, who missed Tuesday’s game due to injury management. Evan Mobley added 21 points for the Cavs, and reserve Sam Merrill had 18 points on six 3-pointers.

Cleveland scored 26 points off 20 Utah turnovers and led wire to wire. It stopped a four-game road losing streak.

Brice Sensabaugh made six 3-pointers and scored 22 points for Utah, matching his season high in his rookie year. Collin Sexton had 19 points and six assists, and Taylor Hendricks added 18 points.

The Jazz played without starters Lauri Markkanen and John Collins in their 10th consecutive loss. Reserve center Walker Kessler was held out in the second half after suffering a nasal fracture.

Cleveland made its first seven shots from the field while surging to a 23-9 lead midway through the first quarter. The Cavaliers shot 68% from the field and totaled 40 points during the quarter while repeatedly getting open looks from the perimeter and at the rim. They had 13 assists on 15 field goals during that stretch.

Besides playing lackadaisical defense, the Jazz also committed seven first-quarter turnovers.

Cleveland extended its lead to 45-29 on Darius Garland’s pullup 3-pointer before Utah clawed back into the game. Omer Yurtseven capped an 11-2 run with a three-point play that cut the deficit to 50-45.

Allen and Mobley combined for three dunks to push the lead back to double digits and spark a 17-2 run that put the Cavaliers up 67-47 at halftime.

UP NEXT

Cleveland visits the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Utah visits the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

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