Camille Naredo

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer, Getty Images/AFP 

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 28: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Cavaliers defeat the Celtics 123-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.   Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

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Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740803366556AFP__20250301__2202596538__v2__HighRes__ClevelandCavaliersVBostonCeltics.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer, Getty Images/AFP Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer, Getty Images/AFP "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. <em>Maddie Meyer, Getty Images/AFP </em></span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points to fuel the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in a 123-116 come-from-behind statement win over the reigning NBA champion Celtics in Boston on Friday.</p><p>The Cavs posted their ninth straight victory, withstanding Boston star Jayson Tatum&#x27;s near triple-double of 46 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.</p><p>Darius Garland scored 20 points and Evan Mobley added 17 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, which took the lead for the first time on Mobley&#x27;s three-pointer with 8:43 left in the fourth quarter.</p><p>Boston star Jaylen Brown -- who scored 37 points -- tied it up at 114-114 with 3:15 remaining, but Mitchell responded with a pair of driving baskets and the Cavaliers held on for a win that pushed their league-best record to 49-10 -- 7.5 games ahead of Boston atop the Eastern Conference.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s a measuring stick,&quot; Mitchell said of the gritty win over the defending champs, who beat Cleveland in the second round of the playoffs last season.</p><p>&quot;These guys have won a championship and we want to continue to get to where they&#x27;re at.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Al3pDG23Vao?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Despite the absence of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, Boston burst out of the gate -- roaring to a 25-3 lead in less than six minutes.</p><p>Tatum scored 18 points in the opening quarter as the Celtics out-scored the Cavs 38-26.</p><p>But Cleveland had already steadied the ship and pulled within two points midway through the second period before Boston pulled away again to lead 74-64 at halftime.</p><p>The Celtics pushed their lead to as many as 17 midway through the third quarter, but still the Cavaliers wouldn&#x27;t go away.</p><p>&quot;The biggest thing is we fought,&quot; Mitchell said. &quot;The biggest thing is just resiliency.&quot;</p><p>In Los Angeles, Luka Doncic celebrated his 26th birthday by scoring a game-high 31 points in the Lakers&#x27; 106-102 victory over the LA Clippers.</p><p>LeBron James added 28 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who repelled a late challenge from a Clippers team led by Ivica Zubac&#x27;s 27 points and 16 rebounds.</p><div><strong>- Thunder roll -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cqQfeUeV2jc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>It was smooth sailing for Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City in Atlanta, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points to lead the Thunder to a 135-119 victory over the Hawks.</p><p>Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams scored 20 points apiece for Oklahoma City, with Dort drilling six of the Thunder&#x27;s 23 three-pointers.</p><p>The Denver Nuggets, fueled by Nikola Jokic&#x27;s 28th triple-double of the season, ended the Pistons&#x27; eight-game winning streak with a 134-119 victory in Detroit.</p><p>Jokic, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 23 points with 17 rebounds and 15 assists before sitting out most of the fourth quarter.</p><p>Denver guard Jamal Murray led all scorers with 31 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 28 for the Nuggets.</p><p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYd2J4BlFWA</p><p>Malik Beasley scored 16 points off the bench to lead the Pistons as star guard Cade Cunningham was held to 11 on a tough night for Detroit&#x27;s starters.</p><p>New York&#x27;s OG Anunoby drained the go-ahead three-pointer with 5.3 seconds remaining as the Knicks beat the Grizzlies 114-113 in Memphis.</p><p>Walker Kessler was the hero for Utah, driving for a game-winning dunk with 9.7 seconds left in the Jazz&#x27;s 117-116 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p><p>Minnesota were without star Anthony Edwards as he served a one-game suspension after accumulating 16 technical fouls this season.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points to fuel the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in a 123-116 come-from-behind statement win over the reigning NBA champion Celtics in Boston.</p>

Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points to fuel the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in a 123-116 come-from-behind statement win over the reigning NBA champion Celtics in Boston.

NBA: Cavs rally to top Celtics in battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights

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NBA: Cavs rally to top Celtics in battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights

Agence France-Presse

Published March 01, 2025 12:33 PM PHT

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Updated March 01, 2025 03:04 PM PHT

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