Cavaliers sink Celtics in OT, Sixers roll on
Donovan Mitchell poured in 40 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers sent the Boston Celtics spinning to a third straight defeat in a heavyweight clash of the Eastern Conference rivals.
Boston’s Grant Williams missed two free throws with less than a second left on the clock that would have given the Celtics victory before the Cavs escaped to win 118-114 in overtime.
Mitchell finished with 40 points from 14-of-34 shooting, with 11 rebounds and four assists. Evan Mobley provided offensive backup with 25 points – and 17 rebounds – while Darius Garland was the only other Cleveland player in double figures with 14 points.
Jaylen Brown led Boston’s scorers with 32 points, while Malcolm Brogdon added 24 off the bench.
Boston fell to 45-21 after the defeat and remain second in the Eastern Conference, two games adrift of leaders Milwaukee.
Cleveland improved to 41-26 and remain in fourth place in the table.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers had another towering performance from Joel Embiid to thank for their 147-143 win on the road against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.
Embiid finished with 42 points as the Sixers improved to 42-22 to remain in third place in the East.
The Sixers’ James Harden finished with 14 points but laid on 20 assists, while Tyrese Maxey added 24 points and Jalen McDaniels 20.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers scoring with 40 points but was unable to drag Indiana over the line.
In Miami, Jimmy Butler finished with 26 points as the Heat recovered from an early 15-point deficit to down the Atlanta Hawks 130-128.
Victor Oladipo nailed four three-pointers in a 22-point haul while Caleb Martin had 21 off the bench for Miami, who improved to 35-31.
Trae Young led Atlanta’s scoring with 25 points.
In Detroit, Damian Lillard had a 31-point triple double in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 110-104 win over the Pistons, who have the worst record in the NBA at 15-40 and are firmly rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference table.