Cavs coach: ‘We are not desperate’

NEWORLEANS — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Cleveland maintained a double-digit lead most of the way for a 118-107 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night (Saturday, Manila time) that extended the Cavaliers’ winning streak to five games.

Evan Mobley had 28 points and 13 rebounds, while Jarrett Allen added 20 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland, which snapped New Orleans’ three-game winning streak.

See Kyrie sustains fine play as Mavs score wire- to-wire win over Kings Cleveland shot 56.5 percent (48 of 85), outscored New Orleans 7058 in the paint and outrebounded the Pelicans 41-34.

The Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram scored 25 points, his fourth straight game with at least that many. Trey Murphy added 17 points and CJ McCollum 12 for New Orleans.

The Cavs were one of just three teams that did not make a trade before Thursday afternoon’s NBA deadline — a decision that only looked wiser when Cleveland opened up a 22-point, first-half lead. The Cavs led by as many as 25 in the second half and the lead hovered around 20 until the latter stages of the fourth quarter, when most of the starters had gone to the bench for good.

“We said beforehand that we are not desperate to do anything. We love the group that we have,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said prior to tipoff. “We are confident in giving it time and letting guys grow together. We are not in a rush. We have guys that are developing, learning how to win and learning how to play together. There is no reason to skip steps and do something desperate when we are not.”

Mitchell had 21 of his points in the first half, highlighted by an off-balance scoop off the glass while being fouled from behind by McCollum.

Mitchell’s driving floater gave Cleveland a 73-55 lead late in the second quarter before Ingram’s free throw made it 73-56 at halftime.

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: Darius Garland scored 11 points. ... Mobley had a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) before halftime. ... Came in allowing an NBA-low 106.2 points per game. ... Have won each game during their current winning by 11 or more points. ... Won in New Orleans for the first time since March 2010.