NBA roundup: Cavaliers beat the Warriors to stay unbeaten, while Celtics win in overtime
The Cleveland Cavaliers maintained their flawless beginning to the NBA season with an impressive performance on Friday, establishing a 41-point lead by halftime en route to a decisive victory over the Golden State Warriors.
With this win, the Cavaliers improved their record to 10-0, defeating the Warriors 136-117, thereby ending Golden State's five-game winning streak and inflicting their first loss on the road this season.
The Cavaliers made their mark early in the game, scoring 83 points in the first half, which equaled a franchise record for the most points scored in any half, while their 41-point halftime lead set a new team record.
Against the Warriors, who boast the second-best defense in the league, the Cavaliers recorded their fifth game of the season with at least 130 points, matching a franchise record for the most games scoring 130 or more points in a single season.
"Ten and zero is a significant milestone," remarked Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. "We are playing exceptionally well, and I am very satisfied with the team's performance."
"I had concerns about tonight's game—they came in with a 7-1 record and were on a roll, being champions, and I expected them to come out strong against us."
Darius Garland led the scoring with 27 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 23 points, and Ty Jerome added 20 points off the bench, as six Cavaliers players reached double figures against a Warriors defense that was ranked second in the league.
Simultaneously, the Cavaliers effectively contained the Warriors' potent offense, starting the game with a remarkable 20-2 scoring run.
"I was surprised by how prepared and eager we were at the start of the game," Atkinson noted.
Andrew Wiggins and Stephen Curry were the only Warriors starters to score before halftime, with Wiggins netting nine points and Curry seven.
Golden State made adjustments after the intermission, outscoring the Cavaliers 41-29 in the third quarter.
"The first half was nearly flawless," Atkinson stated. "However, in the second half, we allowed them to score 13 points in the first three minutes, which was somewhat frustrating."
Nevertheless, the Warriors found themselves in too deep a deficit to recover.
Jonathan Kuminga was the standout performer for the Golden State Warriors, contributing 21 points from the bench, while Stephen Curry recorded 12 points on five-of-ten shooting, including one successful three-pointer.
"We need to improve our execution," stated Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. "Thirteen turnovers in the first half indicate that we were entirely disorganized."
In Boston, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points in a 107-102 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets, who had a 14-point lead in the first half but lost it by the fourth quarter.
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham made a crucial drive for the go-ahead basket with just 8.5 seconds remaining, securing a 122-121 victory for the Pistons over the Atlanta Hawks. He capped off the win with a block against Onyeka Okongwu.
Cunningham achieved a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists, along with a steal and the decisive block.
A free throw by Jusuf Nurkic with only 0.8 seconds left propelled the Phoenix Suns to a narrow 114-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Kevin Durant scored 26 points, while Nurkic contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Suns secure their seventh consecutive win, improving their record to 8-1.
Luka Doncic scored 30 points and Kyrie Irving added 29 for the Mavericks, who have now suffered two losses to the Suns this season.
"It's been enjoyable," Durant remarked about the Suns' strong start. "It has certainly been nerve-wracking with the close games we've faced, but I believe it is beneficial for our team to experience high-pressure situations."
In other action on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers returned to form with a 116-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at home.
After losing four of their last five games, the Lakers dominated the Sixers, led by Anthony Davis's 31 points, LeBron James's 21 points, and Austin Reaves's 20 points.
In New York, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 32 points for the Knicks, who held a lead of up to 30 points in their 116-94 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, who trailed throughout the game.
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