NBA roundup: Cavs take revenge against Celtics, Rockets defeat Thunder in thriller

Donovan Mitchell, aged 28, delivered an impressive performance by scoring 35 points, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-111 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday, thereby avenging a previous narrow defeat. This matchup featured two of the NBA's elite teams.

In a remarkable display, Mitchell contributed 20 points during the fourth quarter, helping the Cavaliers overcome a 14-point deficit in the second half to triumph over the defending NBA champions.

The Cavaliers commenced the season with an impressive 15-0 record but faced their first defeat against Boston last month, losing 120-117. They had also suffered two consecutive losses to Atlanta prior to this significant home victory.

Mitchell emphasized the importance of making a statement with this win, stating, "They beat us in the NBA Cup. No excuse. We've got to go out there and try to build. We had two losses that really hurt. We weren't playing like ourselves. We needed this win."

With this victory, the Cavaliers improved their record to 18-3, maintaining their position at the top of the Eastern Conference, while the Celtics fell to 16-4, ending Boston's seven-game winning streak.

"You've got to trust your work and what we've been working on since training camp. That's the biggest thing," Mitchell remarked. "That's what you saw tonight and that's what it's going to continue to be."

The Celtics were missing their starting guards, Jaylen Brown (illness) and Derrick White (sprained right foot).

"Just because they've got two guys down, they've got a lot of guys who are capable," Mitchell noted. "You've got to respect them. They're champions for a reason."

Cleveland held a narrow 51-49 lead at halftime, but the Celtics surged ahead in the third quarter, entering the final period with an 84-72 advantage, thanks in part to Jayson Tatum, who scored 17 of his 33 points during that quarter.

In response, Mitchell took charge in the fourth quarter, hitting a floater that put the Cavaliers ahead 103-101 with just 67 seconds left, capping off a streak of 11 consecutive points for Cleveland.

Mitchell emphasized the importance of timing in the game, stating, "The key is to identify your opportunities and seize your moments as they arise. They went on a scoring run, and I began to assert my influence in the fourth quarter."

Darius Garland contributed significantly with 22 points, joining Mitchell in successfully converting crucial free throws in the closing moments to secure the win.

"We performed well on both sides of the court," Mitchell remarked. "I was able to score, but we also focused on defense, securing rebounds, and chasing down loose balls. These efforts ultimately led us to victory."

In the matchup between the Rockets and the Thunder, Fred VanVleet delivered a season-best performance with 38 points, guiding the Houston Rockets to a narrow 119-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With this win, Houston improved its record to 15-6, while the Thunder, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 32 points, fell to 15-5.

Dillon Brooks made a pivotal steal and followed it with a jumper, giving Houston a 115-113 lead with just 33 seconds left, and VanVleet added two free throws to extend the lead.

Jalen Williams of Oklahoma City hit a three-pointer with only 2.1 seconds remaining, but VanVleet's final two free throws ensured the Rockets' victory.

In other league news, French sensation Victor Wembanyama recorded a triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 127-125 win against Sacramento.

In Salt Lake City, Anthony Davis scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while LeBron James contributed 27 points and 14 assists, helping the Los Angeles Lakers secure a narrow 105-104 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Luka Doncic made a strong return for Dallas after a five-game absence due to a wrist injury, achieving game-highs of 36 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds, leading the Mavericks to a 137-131 win against Portland.

The Mavericks played without Kyrie Irving, who is dealing with a sore shoulder, and Klay Thompson, who is sidelined with a left foot injury.

Orlando extended its winning streak to six games, with Franz Wagner scoring 20 points, collecting nine rebounds, and providing eight assists to propel the Magic (15-7) to a 100-92 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Mikal Bridges contributed 31 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 points and 19 rebounds, leading the New York Knicks to a decisive victory over the New Orleans Pelicans with a score of 118-85.

In another matchup, R.J. Barrett of Toronto scored 37 points, helping the Raptors secure a narrow 119-116 win against the visiting Miami Heat. Additionally, Jaren Jackson was the standout performer for Memphis, scoring 25 points as the Grizzlies triumphed over the Indiana Pacers with a final score of 136-121.

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