Boston Celtics End Cleveland Cavaliers’ 15-Game Undefeated Streak

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ impressive 15-match winning run concluded with a narrow 120-117 defeat by the Boston Celtics during an NBA Cup contest held at TD Garden. This loss marked the first for the Cavaliers, who had become only the fourth franchise in NBA history to achieve a 15-0 start to a campaign after their victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. Boston secured the win with six players scoring in double figures, spearheaded by Jayson Tatum’s performance of 33 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Despite trailing by 17 points at half-time, the Cavaliers launched a determined comeback, fueled by Evan Mobley, who contributed 22 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. This effort brought the game to within two points midway through the final quarter, but the Celtics ultimately maintained their lead. Celtics’ guard Derrick White commented on the significance of the matchup, stating, “Everybody knew that they were undefeated and coming to our building. And it’s an NBA Cup game, and we already lost one. So, it was a really big game in that aspect. We were all aware.” In other NBA action, the Los Angeles Lakers extended their own winning streak to six consecutive games, defeating the Utah Jazz 124-118. In this game, Dalton Knecht, the 17th pick in the 2024 draft, achieved a career-high 37 points and equaled a rookie record by sinking nine three-pointers. Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Memphis Grizzlies with a score of 122-110, and the Dallas Mavericks secured a dominant 132-91 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. The NBA Cup, which was inaugurated in 2023 and won by the LA Lakers, contributes to regular-season standings. However, its results do not count towards the Championship, which is a separate competition from the regular season.