Boston Celtics end Cleveland Cavaliers’ unbeaten start to the season, Lakers rookie makes history and more from the NBA
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The Boston Celtics handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their first loss of the season with a thrilling 120-117 victory on Tuesday. The Cavaliers, who had started the season with an impressive 15-0 record, became just the fourth team in NBA history to accomplish that feat. However, despite a valiant comeback attempt, Cleveland was unable to maintain their unbeaten streak, with Jason Tatum leading the way for Boston with a stellar performance.
Tatum finished the game with 33 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, showcasing his all-around ability. Six Celtics players reached double digits in scoring, including Al Horford with 20 points, Derrick White with 19, Jaylen Brown with 17, Payton Pritchard with 13, and Jrue Holiday with 11. White mentioned after the game that there was a palpable energy in the arena, knowing they were facing the league’s only unbeaten team, a team they defeated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season.
Boston’s shooting was on point from the start, and they built a 17-point lead by halftime, which grew to 21 in the third quarter. But the Cavaliers made a fierce comeback, cutting the deficit to just two points. Despite the pressure, the Celtics held strong to secure the victory.
Cleveland’s Evan Mobley expressed pride in his team’s fightback, stating, “I’m happy how we fought back. We didn’t start the best, but I feel like we played a pretty good game. I think it was a good test, and from what I saw out there, we could beat anybody.” Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 35 points and eight rebounds, while Mobley contributed 22 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. With the win, both teams are 1-1 in the NBA Cup standings, which will culminate in the semifinals and final in Las Vegas this December. NBA Cup games also count towards regular-season records.
In other NBA action, Russell Westbrook achieved a significant milestone in the Denver Nuggets’ 122-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The 36-year-old guard recorded his 200th career triple-double, making him the all-time leader in triple-doubles. Westbrook finished the game with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists. His accomplishment put him 19 ahead of Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who is in second place. Westbrook expressed his gratitude after the game, saying, “It’s a blessing… I’m truly grateful to be able to play the game to do that. But I’m also appreciative of the ones who came before me.”
With three-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokić absent for the third straight game due to personal reasons, Jamal Murray stepped up for the Nuggets, scoring 27 points along with four rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points and 11 rebounds. For the Grizzlies, Santi Aldama led the way with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while the team continues to be without Ja Morant due to injury. Denver’s victory improved their NBA Cup record to 1-1, while Memphis remains winless at 0-2.
In a historic performance, Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht made nine three-pointers in a game to tie the NBA rookie record. Knecht scored a career-high 37 points to lead the Lakers to a 124-118 win over the Utah Jazz. The victory extended the Lakers’ win streak to six games, their longest since February 2021. Knecht’s impressive shooting performance left superstar LeBron James in awe, commenting, “The other 16 teams f**ked it up. Did anybody watch him? You don’t ‘find’ an SEC Player of the Year.” Knecht joined Rodrigue Beaubois (2010), Yogi Ferrell (2017), and Keyonte George (2024) as the only rookies to hit nine threes in a game.
The Lakers, who are the defending NBA Cup champions, improved their record to 2-0 in the NBA Cup, while the Jazz fell to 0-2.
Here are the results from Tuesday’s NBA games:
- Cleveland Cavaliers 117-120 Boston Celtics
- Denver Nuggets 122-110 Memphis Grizzlies
- Utah Jazz 118-124 Los Angeles Lakers
- Charlotte Hornets 115-116 Brooklyn Nets
- New Orleans Pelicans 91-132 Dallas Mavericks
- Oklahoma City Thunder 104-110 San Antonio Spurs
The Celtics’ victory over the Cavaliers was the highlight of the night, but the historic performances by Westbrook and Knecht also grabbed headlines, underscoring the excitement around the league as the NBA season continues to unfold.
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