NBA roundup: Celtics end Cavaliers' unbeaten start, Westbrook makes history

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points as the Boston Celtics triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending their impressive 15-game unbeaten streak to start the season with a hard-fought 120-117 victory in the NBA Cup on Tuesday.

The Celtics executed a remarkable display, sinking 22 three-pointers to dominate Cleveland, who managed to narrow the deficit to just two points late in the game after having trailed by 21 early in the second half.

Despite Cleveland's determined comeback, the reigning NBA champions, Boston, maintained their composure and continued to score, ultimately securing a well-deserved victory.

Tatum's performance included six three-pointers, along with 12 rebounds and seven assists, contributing to a collective effort from the Celtics, where six players reached double figures in scoring.

Tatum remarked that the Celtics' championship experience played a crucial role in their ability to withstand Cleveland's challenge.

"We have played a significant amount of basketball and participated in the most critical games," Tatum stated. "The NBA consists of many talented teams; players will make plays and hit shots."

"I often emphasize that how you respond reflects your growth and the uniqueness of your team."

Tatum acknowledged that the motivation to end Cleveland's unbeaten run, which had positioned them at the top of the Eastern Conference, fueled the Celtics' performance.

"They entered the game at 15-0, believing they were the best team; we also believed we were the best team—it's all about competition. We were prepared to compete today," Tatum noted.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson expressed that his team was taken aback by the heightened intensity displayed by Boston.

"They brought playoff-level force and physicality, while we were operating at a regular-season level," Atkinson explained. "That accounts for the significant deficit we faced. We improved in the second half, but it was somewhat too late."

"We will need to learn from this experience and make the necessary adjustments."

In a pivotal moment, Tatum hit an impressive three-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half, extending Boston's lead to a commanding 65-48 at halftime.

The Celtics established a commanding 21-point advantage early in the second half; however, the Cavaliers found their rhythm and mounted a strong comeback, narrowing the deficit to just two points at 88-86.

Tatum, however, made a decisive impact by sinking a powerful three-pointer, which allowed Boston to regain a five-point lead as they entered the final quarter. The concluding period was tightly contested, with Cleveland consistently closing the gap to two points, but Boston managed to pull away in the closing minutes to secure the win.

Donovan Mitchell was the standout scorer for Cleveland, contributing 35 points, while Evan Mobley added 22 points along with 11 rebounds and six assists.

In other matchups, Russell Westbrook achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player in NBA history to record 200 career triple-doubles, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists as the shorthanded Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Memphis Grizzlies with a score of 122-110.

In Dallas, Luka Doncic led the Mavericks to a dominant 132-91 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 26 points.

The San Antonio Spurs managed to secure a notable 110-104 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite the absence of their French star, Victor Wembanyama.

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their impressive form, extending their unbeaten streak to six games with a 124-118 win against the Utah Jazz.

Rookie Dalton Knecht emerged as the standout player for the Lakers, achieving 37 points on an impressive 12-of-16 shooting performance, while both LeBron James and Anthony Davis contributed 26 points each.

In New York, the Brooklyn Nets secured a narrow victory over the Charlotte Hornets, winning 116-115, thanks to a remarkable 34-point effort from Cameron Johnson.

The NBA Cup was introduced in the previous season to create a knockout competition during the early months of the league's schedule.

All 30 teams in the league are organized into six groups of five, with eight teams progressing to the single-elimination knockout stages.

The semi-finals and final are scheduled to be held in Las Vegas from December 14 to 17.

SportsLigue