The Cleveland Cavaliers finally caught a break. They pulled off a solid 141-118 win against the New Orleans Pelicans. It happened on December 23, 2025. Donovan Mitchell, yeah, he was the guy leading the charge, as usual.
This win pushed their record to 17-14. But, you know, the team’s still dealing with a pretty shaky start and a ton of injuries. And the biggest one? Dejounte Murray is apparently out with a torn Achilles. That’s a huge blow.
Mitchell Carries the Weight
Donovan Mitchell had a big night against the Pelicans. He dropped 27 points. But he also grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. He’s really doing everything. This win felt good, too. It snapped a three-game losing streak. They’d lost three straight at home before this game, actually.
Mitchell’s been carrying a heavy load. It’s pretty clear. Just the night before, he poured in 30 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. That game was 139-132. Sources said he needed to “pull the ranks close” because of all the injuries.
There’s just no other option right now. Sam Merrill helped out a lot against the Pelicans. He added 22 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. In the Hornets game, Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter each chipped in 27 points. Garland even had 10 assists. It’s a team effort, sure, but Mitchell is the main man.
Cavs’ Injury Crisis Deepens
So, the biggest news, and it’s not good, is about Dejounte Murray. He’s listed as “NWT.” That means Not With Team. And why? A Right Achilles Rupture. Yeah, that’s rough. The box score notes repeated it. That’s a season-ender, probably. This is a massive hit to the team.
But it’s not just Murray. The Cavaliers have been really banged up. DeAndre Jordan, Kevon Looney, and Yves Missi were also DNPs. That’s for coach’s decision, but still. Max Strus has been out, awaiting return. Sam Merrill just got back, it seems like. Jalen Tyson has stepped up lately, which is good. He’s been a secondary contributor. The team is just scrambling to fill spots.
Breaking the Losing Streak
This win over New Orleans was huge. It wasn’t just breaking a three-game skid. It also stopped those three straight home losses. The energy was probably pretty low before this game. They really needed this.
The Pelicans aren’t exactly world-beaters this season. They’re sitting at a dismal 8-23. Zion Williamson did score 26 points for them, though. But the Cavaliers’ offense was just too much. They shot 45.7% from the field in some segments. That’s pretty efficient. It was a good bounce-back for the squad.
Looking Ahead to Christmas Day
Now, the Cavs have a big one coming up. They’re playing the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. The Knicks are no pushovers. They have a strong 20-9 record. This will be a real test.
The Cavaliers are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference. Their 17-14 record is okay. But it could be better. Especially with all these injuries. They’ll need Donovan Mitchell to keep shouldering that load. And maybe get some more guys back soon. It’s going to be tough. But you know they’ll try.
Ishaan Singh 
Annsly Raena