LOS ANGELES - Jayson Tatum scored 33 points as the Boston Celtics' "play-off force and physicality" ended the Cleveland Cavaliers' 15-game unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought 120-117 victory in the NBA Cup on Nov 19.
The Celtics unleashed a barrage of 22 three-pointers to overwhelm Cleveland, who clawed their way back to within two points of the lead late in the game after trailing by 21 early in the second half.
Despite the Cleveland fightback, reigning National Basketball Association (NBA) champions Boston held their nerve and kept the scoreboard ticking over to close out a deserved win. Tatum's tally included six three-pointers, while the Boston star added 12 rebounds and seven assists in an all-round Celtics effort that saw six players finish in double figures.
Tatum said Boston's championship pedigree had helped the Celtics over the line as Cleveland threatened late in the game.
"We've played a lot of basketball, we've played in the biggest games," he said. "NBA is a bunch of talented teams - guys are gonna make plays, they're gonna make shots. I say it all the time - how you respond shows your growth and how special your team is."
He admitted that ending the Eastern Conference leaders' unbeaten record had motivated the Celtics.
This story is from the November 21, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 21, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Fans wait 7 hours in the rain for (G)I-dle's Minnie at Chagee VivoCity opening
The incessant rain over the weekend did not deter fans from waiting for up to seven hours to catch a glimpse of K-pop girl group (G)I-dle's Minnie.
Actor Park Sung-hoon drops out of drama over sharing of explicit image
South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon - who faced a backlash over an explicit image he shared on social media in late December dropped out of K-drama The Tyrant's Chef, in which he was the male lead.
Los Angeles Fires Deliver Latest Blow to Embattled Hollywood
As Los Angeles is gripped by wildfires that resemble a Hollywood disaster movie, the city's vast entertainment industry is already counting the costs of yet another drastic setback that its workers can ill-afford.
Marina Bay Sands to light up in K-pop boy band Seventeen's colours
Fans awaiting their chance to catch K-pop boy band Seventeen during their concert stop in Singapore at the National Stadium on Jan 25 and 26 can hit up Marina Bay Sands (MBS) as an Instagram spot.
Resorts for every budget
From dreamy resorts to quirky hostels, here are some options to consider while on holiday in Krabi, Phuket and Khao Lak
In Kyrgios' fight and fall lies the beauty of the game
This game is rough. This game doesn't care about reputations.
ALCARAZ REVEALS SECRET
World No. 3 credits hard work after pulling off extraordinary shots in opening victory
'A DIFFERENT SPIRIT' IN SHOCK UNITED VICTORY
10 men beat Arsenal in shoot-out, Amorim positive on progress after their horrid spell
'Calm' Barca lift Super Cup after Real cave in
Barcelona hammered rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a wild Spanish Super Cup Clasico final in Saudi Arabia on Jan 12 to win the first trophy of the Hansi Flick era.
Joy for Manchester clubs
The weekend's FA Cup third round featured EPL clubs aiming to dodge early exits. Here are five talking points.
