NBA roundup: Cavs extend winning streak to 10 games with De'Andre Hunter's big performance

The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame an 18-point deficit to secure a 133-129 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers in an exhilarating NBA overtime match, marking their tenth consecutive win and enhancing their league-leading record on Sunday, coinciding with Boston's victory over Denver in a matchup of the previous two champions.

De'Andre Hunter, who stepped into the starting lineup while Cavs star Donovan Mitchell rested, delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 18 of his game-high 32 points during the fourth quarter and overtime. This late surge propelled Cleveland to their 50th win of the season against just 10 losses.

"Made open shots, tried to get to the rim and get fouled," Hunter remarked regarding his pivotal contributions, which included a crucial three-pointer that gave Cleveland a 131-129 lead with 30.8 seconds left in overtime.

Acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, Hunter also made a significant defensive play by securing a steal and a rebound after Portland's Deni Avdija missed a three-point attempt. He subsequently converted two free throws to clinch the victory.

Ty Jerome contributed 25 points off the bench for Cleveland, with six players from the Cavaliers reaching double figures in scoring.

Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 30 points, complemented by 12 rebounds and 10 assists, achieving his first career triple-double. Anfernee Simons added 27 points for Portland, who had been leading for much of the first half in their quest for a fifth consecutive win.

After Darius Garland's jump shot put Cleveland ahead 42-39, Portland responded with a 15-0 run to close the first half, entering the locker room with a 54-42 advantage.

The Cavaliers managed to tie the game at 101-101 with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the teams exchanged the lead three additional times before Simons' free throws equalized the score at 119-119, necessitating overtime.

Hunter, who was acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, made a crucial play by securing a steal and grabbing a rebound after Portland's Deni Avdija missed a three-point attempt. He then successfully converted two free throws to clinch the victory.

Ty Jerome contributed significantly for Cleveland, scoring 25 points off the bench, while six players from the Cavaliers reached double figures in scoring.

Avdija was the standout performer for Portland, finishing with 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his first career triple-double. Anfernee Simons added 27 points for the Blazers, who maintained a lead for much of the first half as they sought their fifth consecutive win.

After Cleveland took a narrow lead of 42-39 with a jump shot from Darius Garland, Portland responded with a 15-0 scoring run to end the first half, heading into the locker room with a 54-42 advantage.

The Cavaliers managed to tie the game at 101-101 with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the teams exchanged the lead three additional times before Simons made two free throws to equalize at 119-119, forcing the game into overtime.

"We're a resilient group," Jerome remarked, acknowledging that the Cavs' comeback victory over the Celtics in Boston on Friday had taken a toll on them.

"And that's a good team," he noted regarding the Blazers. "We just had to stay focused and make some shots."

In Boston, the Celtics narrowly defeated the Nuggets 110-103 after allowing a significant lead to slip away. Jaylen Brown led the defending champions with 22 points and eight assists, as the Celtics had a 20-point advantage in the third quarter, only for Denver to close the gap to three points in the final moments.

Jamal Murray played a pivotal role in the comeback by scoring 13 of his total 26 points in the fourth quarter. His driving layup, following a rebound from a missed shot by Brown, brought the Nuggets within a close 102-99 with just 1:15 left on the clock.

NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic contributed significantly to the 2023 champion Nuggets with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists. However, the Celtics managed to make crucial shots at key moments, effectively ending their two-game losing streak.

Veteran player Al Horford recorded 19 points, while Derrick White added 17 points to the scoreboard. Jayson Tatum, although having a relatively subdued performance, finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.

"Defensively, I thought we were good tonight," Brown said. "Offensively we missed some good looks.I missed some layups, I missed some open shots, but we were able to hang on."

SportsLigue