No more unbeaten team left as the champion Celtics ended the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 15-0 start in Boston on the same night Russell Westbrook made history in a skid-stopping Denver Nuggets win.
Day 3 of the NBA Cup also featured Dalton Knecht’s career-night for the streaking LA Lakers, while the OKC Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, and Brooklyn Nets all secured their first win in the mid-season tournament.
HISTORIC NIGHT FOR BRODIE AS DALTON KNECHT PUSHES LAKERS TO 2-0 NBA CUP START
- Denver Nuggets (8-5) def. Memphis Grizzlies (8-7), 122-110: Russell Westbrook notched his 200th career triple-double as the Nuggets took home their first NBA Cup win.
- One of a kind: Already the NBA’s career leader in trip-dubs, Westbrook stood alone as the only player to record 200 career triple-doubles after his 12-point, 10-rebound, and 14-assist night.
Jamal Murray had 27 points while Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 24 as Denver snapped a two-game skid and bucked the absence of reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who is out for the third straight game due to personal reasons.
- Too soft?: Despite the triple-double, the most notable moment of Westbrook's night might have been his technical foul.
Westbrook got T’d up for staring against Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama late in the third frame after the former MVP drove past him and scored.
"I don't like those techs, partner."
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) November 20, 2024
"A taunting tech 'cause you looked at a guy."
Russell Westbrook got a tech for staring
- Westbrook on becoming the first and only player so far to tally 200 career trip-dubs: I'm truly grateful just to go out and play and given every opportunity I've got, just compete at the highest level.
- LA Lakers (8-5) def. Utah Jazz (3-11), 124-118: It was the Dalton Knecht show in LaLa Land as the Lakers rode the hot hands of their rookie to remain unbeaten in the tournament they conquered last season.
- Knecht connect: Knecht tied the NBA's single-game rookie record with nine threes en route to exploding for a career-high 37 points in just his fourth start of the season. His nine triples matched Keyonte George, Yogi Ferrell, and Rodrigue Beaubois.
At one point, the 17th pick of the draft scored 22 straight points for the Lakers.
Asked when he knew he’s about to have a breakout game, Knect said it was not until he made the first shot that he felt he’s on a rhythm.
When did Knecht realize he was in the 'flow state' tonight?
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
"The first shot." https://t.co/kCD4i5ONtT
LeBron James and Anthony Davis each scored 26 markers for the Lakers, who won sixth straight for the first time since 2021.
- James on what stood out in the Lakers’ win: “Watching DK go crazy.”
The best part of tonight?
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
"Watching DK go crazy" LeBron says 🫡 https://t.co/kCD4i5ONtT
CELTICS DEAL CAVS FIRST SEASON LOSS; MAVS, SPURS, NETS RACK UP FIRST NBA CUP WINS
- Boston Celtics (12-3) def. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-1), 120-117: In perhaps one of the most anticipated match-ups this season, the Celtics shot the lights out in Boston to hand the Cavaliers their first loss after a 15-0 start.
[ALSO READ: Hot-shooting Celtics hand Cavaliers their first loss of season, claim first NBA Cup win]
- Undefeated who?: This game probably meant more to the champion Celtics than any other compared to their first 14 games of the season.
Facing a 15-0 Cavs team, Jayson Tatum drilled six of Boston’s 22 total threes to finish with 33 points against Cleveland, who made the game interesting after trailing by as much as 21 points.
They Cavs came within five points or less 13 times in the final frame but could not complete the comeback.
- Derrick White on the Celtics’ mindset entering the game: "Everybody knew they were undefeated and coming into our building. And also an NBA Cup game, we already lost one game. It was a really big game in that aspect."
Derrick White on whether the Celtics were discussing the Cavs being 15-0 beforehand:
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) November 20, 2024
“Yeah, we knew. Everybody knew they were undefeated and coming into our building. And also an NBA Cup game, we already lost one game. It was a really big game in that aspect. We’re all aware.”
- Double whammy for Spida: Despite falling short, Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points on the night he took a nasty blow off Tatum‘s shoulders that resulted in the former All-Star’s bloodied teeth afterwards.
The officials called it a normal foul as Mitchell sank the two freebies.
#Celtics Jayson Tatum goes for the ball and shoves #Cavaliers Donavon Mitchell.
— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) November 20, 2024
Mitchell is down on the court.
donovan mitchell teeth
— ? (@HOODH3RO) November 20, 2024
- Mitchell on the Cavs’ first loss of the season: “Credit to Boston, they did what they did. This is a great test for us and, unfortunately, we didn't get the win."
Donovan Mitchell: "I had no doubt we're gonna come back, you know what I mean? Like credit to Boston, they did what they do.
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) November 20, 2024
This is a great test for us and, unfortunately we didn't get the win."
📺 Full Interview: https://t.co/7IJcwPCwPd
??by @PrizePicks & @GameTime
- San Antonio Spurs (9-6) def. OKC Thunder (11-4), 110-104: Even missing three starters would not stop the San Antonio Spurs in clinching their first ever NBA Cup win after toppling the Thunder.
[ALSO READ: Missing their three leading scorers, Spurs score first-ever NBA Cup win at expense of OKC]
- Clutch CP3: Playing without Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan, the 39-year-old Paul took charge with 14 points and 11 assists for his sixth double-double of the season.
He hit a clutch three as the shot clock was expiring to hand the Spurs a critical 107-98 cushion with less than 90 seconds ino the game.
Keldon Johnson, who averaged just 12 points this season, erupted for 22 points as San Antonio improved to 6-3 at home.
- Dallas Mavericks (8-7) def. New Orleans Pelicans (4-11), 132-91: The ‘Big Three’ of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson combined for 63 points as the Mavericks also secured their first NBA Cup win.
- Brooklyn Nets (6-9) def. Charlotte Hornets (5-9), 116-115: Cam Johnson went off for a Nets career-high of 34 markers, helping Brooklyn survive the visiting Hornets.
