The Boston Celtics handed the Cavaliers their first-season loss at TD Garden in the second group-stage match of the Emirates NBA Cup tournament.
The Boston Celtics hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers in their second match of the Emirates NBA Cup competition after losing their first Cup game at home to the Atlanta Hawks 116-117.
Cavaliers have had a perfect start to the season with a 15-0 record.
Only four teams have achieved that before, the last of which was the 2015-2016 Warriors, who went on to win the season.
Jason Tatum led Boston in scoring with 33 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 6 of 10 from beyond the three-point line.
Cavaliers trailed by as many as 21 points as Boston; the reigning champs rained 22 three-pointers. They rallied back to a one-possession game at 90-88 with 6 seconds left on the clock.
Tatum drained a three-point buzzer-beater at the end of the quarter to give the Celtics a 5-point edge heading into the fourth quarter.
Celtic guards Jason Tatum and Derrick White admitted postgame that the Caverlier’s unbeaten record gave them the extra motivation they needed to win the game.
“We knew, everybody knew they were undefeated, and coming into our building, and also, it was an NBA Cup game that we already lost, so yeah, it was a big game in that regard,” said Derrick White.
Cavaliers Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points while Evan Mobley added 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists in the loss.
“They had playoff force and physicality… We had regular season force and physicality. That’s why we were down by whatever we were down. Second half we turned it up, but it was kind of too late. We’re just going to have to put it in the bank and make adjustments,” said Cavalier head coach Kenny Atkinson.
200 triple-doubles
Russell Westbrook recorded his 200th triple-double as the Nuggets cruised over Memphis 122-110. He finished the game with 12 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Both teams are without the services of their stars, Denver’s Jokic sat out for personal reasons and Morant is still out with a bad hip.
JJ Jackson and rookie center Zach Edey didn’t play as both were nursing injuries.
