Mitchell delivers in fourth as Cavs snap Celtics' win streak


At a glance

  • Donovan Mitchell scored 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter as the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Boston’s seven-game winning streak with a 115-111 victory over the Celtics on Sunday night, Dec. 1, in the second intense matchup between the Eastern Conference’s top teams this season.


CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter as the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Boston’s seven-game winning streak with a 115-111 victory over the Celtics on Sunday night, Dec. 1, in the second intense matchup between the Eastern Conference’s top teams this season.

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) goes to the basket in front of Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 1, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Mitchell made all six field-goal attempts — including four 3-pointers — in the fourth as the Cavs overcame a 12-point deficit. The All-Star guard scored 30 points in the second half after going just 2 of 8 from the floor in the first.

Darius Garland added 22 points for Cleveland, which got some revenge on Boston after the defending NBA champions handed the Cavs their first loss on Nov. 19 following a 15-0 start.

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points and Payton Pritchard 24 for the Celtics, who led 93-81 in the fourth before Mitchell took over. Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points for Boston.

The Celtics played without two starters: Jaylen Brown (illness) and Derrick White (foot sprain).

Meanwhile in Salt Lake City, Anthony Davis had 33 points and 11 rebounds, LeBron James added 27 points and 14 assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz, 105-104.

After James missed a 3-pointer — his 10th attempt of the night — in the closing seconds, Utah had a chance to win the game but Collin Sexton fumbled the inbounds pass and couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.

James made a running left-handed hook with 41.0 seconds left but Walker Kessler made a putback on the other end to keep the Jazz within a basket.

Lauri Markkanen scored 22 points and John Collins had 21 as the Jazz lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Davis scored 16 points in the third quarter and James took over in the fourth when Davis was resting. James made four straight shots, including a reverse layup and dunk, that pushed the Lakers’ lead to 101-92.

The Lakers were without Jaxson Hayes (sprained right ankle), Austin Reaves (bruised hip), D’Angelo Russell (illness) and Cam Reddish (illness). Hayes is expected to miss two to three weeks.

In Sacramento, Victor Wembanyama had 34 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first triple-double of the season, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Kings, 127-125, for their fifth win in six games.

Devin Vassell added 21 points off the bench for San Antonio. Chris Paul finished with 13 points.

DeRozan had 28 points to lead the Kings, who led by 17 points in the first quarter and were up 65-58 at halftime.

The Spurs used a 19-7 run to take a third-quarter lead, but the Kings responded to lead 97-92 heading into the fourth.

In Portland, Luka Doncic returned from a wrist injury and had 36 points in the Dallas Mavericks’ 137-131 victory over the Trail Blazers.

Doncic, who missed five games, also had 13 assists in the Mavericks’ fourth straight win.

The Mavs were missing Kyrie Irving, who had 30 points in a 106-94 win Saturday over the Utah Jazz, because of a sore shoulder. The Mavs were also without Klay Thompson (left foot), Dereck Lively II (right knee) and Naji Marshall (illness).

In Houston, Fred VanVleet had a season-high 38 points and Dillon Brooks made a go-ahead jump shot late to help the Rockets to a 119-116 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The game was tied at 113 when Brooks hit the short jumper in the lane just before the shot clock expired to put the Rockets on top with 33.1 seconds to go.