Cleveland Cavaliers vs New Orleans Pelicans Final Score & Over/Under Result — Mar 21, 2026

Cleveland's explosive fourth quarter—35 combined points—proved decisive as the Cavaliers escaped New Orleans with a 111–106 victory in a defensive battle that fell well short of expectations. The game's opening quarter set a frantic pace with 62 combined points, but defenses tightened significantly thereafter. The second half delivered just 108 combined points, with the third quarter yielding only 55, as both teams scraped and clawed through a late-season grind. The first half's 109 combined points and the second half's 108 reflected a seesaw affair until the final frame, when Cleveland pulled away.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 27 points while adding 7 rebounds and 3 assists, and James Harden orchestrated the offense with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. Evan Mobley chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds. For New Orleans, Zion Williamson's 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists kept the Pelicans within striking distance, while Saddiq Bey contributed 19 points and 5 rebounds.

The combined total of 217 landed well under the market line of 238.5—a 21.5-point miss to the under side. DAGGER leaned under, and it cashed. Both teams' recent form suggested a lower-scoring affair; New Orleans has averaged 113.9 allowed per game over its last 10, while Cleveland has held opponents to 113.2. Their December matchup swung the opposite direction, combining for 259 points, making this reversal a stark departure.