All good, or even historic, things must come to an end.
Jayson Tatum and the defending champion Boston Celtics just reminded the Cleveland Cavaliers of that logic.
Tatum dropped 33-point, 12-rebound double-double as the Celtics handed the Cavaliers their first loss of the season via 120-117 squeaker, chalking up their first NBA Cup win on Wednesday, November 20 (PH Time).
The 26-year-old superstar also drilled six threes on top of seven assists in 37 minutes of play.Jayson Tatum drops 33 PTS, 12 REB, 7 AST & 2 STL as the CELTICS SNAP THE CAVS 15-0 WIN STREAK 😤
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) November 20, 2024
🥶🥶
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
Tatum now 6-8 from deep tonight! https://t.co/GqgeZRfASV
Al Horford added 20 markers while Derrick White chipped in 19 for Boston, who made 22 threes and shot 54% from deep overall. Jaylen Brown had 17 points and eight assists.
It was the third straight game that the Celtics connected on 20 or more threes as the reigning champions now improved to 12-3 overall and just two games behind Cleveland (15-1).
Horford's block leads to the D-White triple.... Boston's 22nd of the night!
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
Celtics go up 8 in the 4th on TNT 🏆
A rousing 40-28 third quarter by the Cavs cut a once 21-point Celtics lead to just five entering the final frame, 93-88.
JT, THAT'S TOUGH 😮?💨
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
The step-back triple gives the Celtics a 5-point lead heading into the 4th!
🏆 East Group C action
🏀 CLE-BOS on TNT
After Craig Porter’s triple nudged Cleveland to within two, Tatum drove for a ferocious slam before finding a wide open Payton Pritchard who drilled the trey to pad Boston’s advantage, 107-100, with 5:31 seconds left.
JT SLAM FOR 30 😤
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
🏆 East Group C action
🏀 CLE-BOS on TNT
Pritchard's 3 brings the house down in Boston 🗣?🔊??
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
Celtics back up 7 in the 4th! https://t.co/0OD6WZJQB3
The Celtics kept the Cavaliers at bay the remainder of the game to hand the latter their first road loss of the season.
Earlier, Boston shot the lights out in the opening half headed by Tatum, who poured 17 points on four threes.
Tatum 3... Horford 3.
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
Celtics raining triples early in #EmiratesNBACup action 🔥
🏆 East Group C
🏀 CLE-BOS on TNT
The Celtics drained 14 threes in the first two quarters and buried the Cavs to their largest halftime deficit of the season so far at 17, 65-48.
A FLURRY OF THREES TO END THE HALF 😱
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
Celtics are 14/22 from deep and lead 65-48 at halftime 🔥
It was the first matchup of two teams since their East semifinal showdown last playoffs that went five games. Cleveland won Game 2 in Boston before the Celtics rattled off three straight wins en route to winning the championship.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell paced the Cavs with 35 points, including 22 in the second half, but their comeback fell short.
Mitchell tough 3 for 33 as Cleveland looks for a late push!
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
🏆 East Group C action
🏀 CLE-BOS on TNT
Evan Mobley had 22 markers while Porter contributed 15 points off the bench. Jarrett Allen tallied a 10-point 11-rebound double-double.
Darius Garland, who scored 25 points or more in the last three games entering the game, struggled mightily with a mere eight points on a 3-of-21 shooting.
Entering the game, the Cavs were tied with the 1993-94 Houston Rockets and the 1948-49 Washington Capitols for the second-longest winning streak to start a season in league history.
The top three-point shooting team at 42%, Cleveland was held to just a 36 percent from deep.
Both teams are now 1-1 in East Group C play.
