CLEVELAND (Interstat) — Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points, Jarrett Allen added 21 and Evan Mobley had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Brooklyn Nets 125-121 on Saturday at Rocket Arena. Cleveland won its home opener before an announced attendance of 19,432. Brooklyn had a late chance after Michael Porter Jr. made a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds remaining, but Sam Merrill made two free throws with 5.2 seconds left. Cleveland improved to 1-1, while Brooklyn fell to 0-2.

Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 28 points and nine rebounds. Julius Randle scored 23 points with six rebounds and five assists, Egor Demin scored 22 points with four rebounds and six assists, and Chaney Johnson added 10 points and five rebounds. Demin scored 15 points in the fourth quarter. Mobley finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks for Cleveland. Allen had 21 points and eight rebounds, Mitchell added five rebounds, four assists and one block, and James Harden had 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jaylon Tyson scored 15 points off the bench and Mario Hezonja added nine points and five rebounds.

Brooklyn scored 24 points in the first quarter, 26 in the second, 41 in the third and 30 in the fourth. Cleveland scored 33 in the first, 28 in the second, 29 in the third and 35 in the fourth. The Nets outscored Cleveland 41-29 in the third quarter to take a 91-90 lead into the fourth, but the Cavaliers answered with a strong fourth quarter and then held on late.

Cleveland opened the game with Jarrett Allen free throws and a Peyton Watson 3-pointer, while Brooklyn answered with 3-pointers from Keon Ellis and Day’Ron Sharpe. Evan Mobley made two 3-pointers in the first quarter and added a driving layup, and James Harden hit a 3-pointer and made a free throw. Brooklyn stayed close with Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle, who combined for early baskets and free throws. Porter made a hook shot and an 8-foot jumper, Randle made a 3-pointer and a three-point play, and Demin made two free throws. Cleveland built a double-digit halftime lead behind Mobley, Allen and Harden, while Brooklyn’s offense went through Porter, Randle and Demin.

Brooklyn made its push after halftime. Randle made a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, Porter hit a 3-pointer, and Demin began to find openings. Cleveland countered with 3-pointers from Mitchell, Merrill and Tyson, and Allen finished inside. Hezonja and Tyson also made baskets in the third quarter. Brooklyn’s 41-point third quarter changed the game’s momentum, and the Nets took a one-point lead into the fourth.

Cleveland regained control early in the fourth. Tyson made a 3-pointer and a driving dunk, Mitchell made a pullup jumper, and Harden made technical free throws. The Cavaliers led 116-99 after Allen’s alley-oop dunk with 4:03 remaining. Brooklyn answered with Demin’s four-point play, a Porter 3-pointer and free throws from Randle to close the gap. Porter made a 23-foot 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left to bring Brooklyn within 123-121. Merrill then made two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining to secure the win. Harden made key free throws late, and Mitchell and Mobley combined for timely baskets in the final period. Demin’s fourth-quarter scoring helped turn a comfortable Cleveland lead into a tense finish.

Brooklyn shot 39 of 97 from the floor, 20 of 49 from 3-point range and 23 of 27 from the free-throw line. Cleveland shot 40 of 79 from the field, 16 of 38 from beyond the arc and 29 of 38 from the free-throw line. Brooklyn had 18 offensive rebounds to Cleveland’s 9, while Cleveland blocked 9 shots. Brooklyn had 11 assists, and Cleveland had 9. Brooklyn committed 19 turnovers and 30 fouls; Cleveland committed 23 turnovers and 28 fouls. Brooklyn scored 121 points from 111 possessions with an offensive rating of 109.2. Cleveland scored 125 points from 111 possessions with an offensive rating of 112.6.

Cleveland bounced back from a season-opening loss at Philadelphia. Brooklyn dropped its second straight game after opening the season with a loss to Charlotte. Mobley, Cleveland’s top star, followed his 18-point, eight-rebound effort at Philadelphia with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Brooklyn next plays Indiana, and Cleveland next hosts Minnesota.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Cleveland 109, Brooklyn 102. Interstat’s ELO system gave Cleveland a 95.5 percent pregame probability of winning, and Cleveland was installed as a pregame favorite with a point spread of minus 11.5. The game’s total of 246 went under the over-under line of 228.