Celtics Secure Narrow Victory Over Cavaliers To End Their Perfect Season Start

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Boston Celtics secured a narrow 120-117 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending Cleveland's impressive 15-game winning streak. Jayson Tatum was instrumental, scoring 33 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. The Cavaliers, who had not lost this season, managed to reduce a 21-point deficit to just two in the third quarter. Donovan Mitchell's late three-pointer brought them close, but Tatum's free throw and Al Horford's dunk sealed the victory.

Dalton Knecht made headlines by tying the NBA rookie record with nine three-pointers in a single game. He scored a career-high 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 124-118. LeBron James contributed with 26 points and 12 assists, while Anthony Davis added another 26 points and 14 rebounds. This victory marked the Lakers' sixth consecutive win, maintaining their perfect home record this season.

The Celtics were dominant from beyond the arc, hitting 14 of their first-half three-point attempts. They turned a five-point lead into a commanding halftime advantage by scoring six consecutive threes. Despite Cleveland's efforts to close the gap in the third quarter, Boston maintained their composure to secure their third straight win.

Luka Dončić returned from injury to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a resounding 132-91 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Dončić scored 26 points, while Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving added 19 and 18 points respectively. The Mavericks achieved their highest point total of the season against an undermanned Pelicans team missing key players like Zion Williamson.

In Los Angeles, Knecht's performance was pivotal as he scored on four consecutive possessions during the third quarter. His ninth three-pointer gave LA a significant lead early in the fourth quarter. Although Utah attempted a comeback, they couldn't overcome Knecht's historic shooting display.

The Pelicans struggled without several key players and have now lost eleven of their last thirteen games. Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with a season-high of nineteen points despite limited appearances due to injury issues.

The Mavericks' strong performance was highlighted by Dončić's return after missing one game due to knee issues. His shooting accuracy helped Dallas build an unassailable lead against New Orleans, who were unable to mount any significant challenge throughout the match.