Cavaliers Vs Hornets: Mitchell’s 100th 30-Point Game Powers Cleveland to 118-113 Win, Seventh Straight
In the Cavaliers Vs Hornets matchup on Feb. 20, 2026, the Cleveland Cavaliers edged the Charlotte Hornets 118-113. The result extended Cleveland’s winning streak to seven games and marked Donovan Mitchell’s 100th 30-plus point performance as a Cavalier.
Cavaliers Vs Hornets — Development details
Cleveland closed out the game 118-113 on Friday night. Donovan Mitchell finished with 32 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals; he began the contest 4-of-15 from the field before going 5-of-8 the rest of the way to reach the milestone 100th 30-point game as a Cavalier. Darius Garland’s role shift was noted, but it was Mitchell’s late surge that decided the outcome.
Key supporting production came from Jarrett Allen, who posted 26 points and hauled in 14 rebounds with 2 assists and a block — a rebounding performance that was explicitly linked to the victory: without those boards the Cavs would have lost. James Harden added 18 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal, and his playmaking was singled out as a factor that made the Cleveland offense more potent with him running the attack. Delon Wade (Wade) delivered consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help close the game; he has not missed a shot since returning from the All-Star break.
Other contributions included a bench defensive lift from Dennis Schroder, who produced two second-half steals, and Alec Merrill, who connected on 2-of-4 three-point attempts. Evan Bryant logged 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Keita Ellis recorded 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals; Anthony Bryant’s block in the third quarter was described as an electrifying moment despite some uneven stretches.
Context and escalation
Both clubs were playing the second half of back-to-back schedules when they took the floor: the Cavaliers had traveled south after beating the Nets the previous night, and the Hornets had stayed up following a 105-101 loss to the Rockets. Cleveland had managed minutes carefully in the prior game, keeping Donovan Mitchell to just over 20 minutes and 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting; that conservation of minutes was a strategic element heading into Charlotte.
Recent head-to-head history added to the stakes. Charlotte won the first meeting of the season in overtime in Cleveland, but the Cavaliers had taken the two most recent matchups by seven points each. Oddsmakers had listed the Hornets as home underdogs for the Friday game.
Immediate impact
The most immediate consequence is the Cavaliers’ seven-game win streak, a run that has shifted momentum for the team. Mitchell’s 32 points and Harden’s 8 assists combined to lift an offense that has felt sharper since Harden’s arrival, and Jarrett Allen’s 14 rebounds directly prevented a loss, underscoring the tangible link between individual performances and the final result.
For the Hornets, the defeat represented their second loss in three games after they had previously enjoyed a nine-game winning stretch. The loss narrowed Charlotte’s recent margin for error and left the Hornets regrouping after a grueling back-to-back stretch that included the close loss to the Rockets the night before.
What makes this notable is the combination of milestone and momentum: Mitchell’s personal achievement arrived at a moment when Cleveland’s rotation management and complementary scoring were producing team-level gains.
Forward outlook
The immediate schedule reality is unchanged — both teams were competing on the second nights of back-to-backs in this window — and Cleveland’s winning streak will carry into its next assigned games. Mitchell’s season scoring profile remains a factor; prior to this game he was averaging 29 points per game and had posted more than 26. 5 points in roughly two-thirds of his contests this season, signals that will shape matchups going forward.
With the Cavaliers riding a seven-game streak and the Hornets facing short rest after their loss, upcoming game plans will likely hinge on how teams manage minutes and whether Cleveland can sustain the offensive balance created by Harden’s facilitation, Allen’s interior work and Mitchell’s scoring bursts.
