Cleveland Cavaliers get 17th win as Boston Celtics edge out Minnesota Timberwolves
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome celebrating with guard Sam Merrill and forward Evan Mobley after hitting a three-point basket on Nov 24.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Donovan Mitchell and reserve Ty Jerome each scored 26 points to spark the Cleveland over the Toronto Raptors 122-108 on Nov 24, with Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson suggesting they have unleashed only “70 per cent or maybe 65 per cent” of their offensive potential.
Jerome has scored at least 24 points in three of his past four National Basketball Association (NBA) games.
Jarrett Allen added 23 points and 13 rebounds for the league-leading Cavaliers, who improved to 17-1 for the season, while Gradey Dick and Scottie Barnes each scored 18 to lead the Raptors.
The Cavaliers began the campaign 15-0 before losing 120-117 to the Boston Celtics on Nov 19, but Cleveland bounced back to beat the New Orleans Pelicans the next night and stayed hot against Toronto, improving to 10-0 at home at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
“It’s a special place to play and we feel it on the court,” Mitchell said. “It’s always loud when we play. It’s always comfortable coming back here and knowing we’re going to get a loud ovation every time.”
Atkinson added: “We’re not exactly on top of our game, and we still come up with a W. It’s kind of shocking for where we are. That’s not to disparage anybody. It’s just more about how hard it is in this league to do that.”
The Cavaliers outscored the Raptors 64-42 in the paint, while also hitting 16 of 41 attempts from beyond the arc.
Toronto have lost eight of their past 10 games and sit at 4-13.
In Boston, Jaylen Brown scored 29 points and Jayson Tatum added 26 to lead the reigning champions over the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-105.
“It was a great effort on both ends of the court,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
“Great team win. I liked how we constantly interacted with each other. Our defence and physicality and working to get the right shot, I think those were the key to winning.”
The Celtics improved to 14-3, second only to Cleveland among all NBA sides, and stretched their winning streak to five games.
Brown made a three-pointer to give the Celtics a 107-102 lead with 1min 16sec remaining. Julius Randle answered with a lay-up and free throw but the Timberwolves (8-8) could not pull level with Boston before the final buzzer.
Anthony Edwards had 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Minnesota, who also had 23 points from Randle and 20 rebounds by Rudy Gobert.
In Miami, Jimmy Butler scored 33 points, grabbed nine rebounds and passed off six assists to lead the Heat over the Dallas Mavericks 123-118 in overtime.
Butler’s dunk with 4.1sec remaining in regulation lifted the Heat level at 114-114 to force overtime.
With 98sec left in overtime, Butler added a lay-up for a 122-118 before Alec Burks added a final free throw to seal the victory.
Bam Adebayo had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Tyler Herro added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Miami.
Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 27 points.
In Philadelphia, James Harden scored a game-high 23 points to lead the visiting Los Angeles Clippers to a 125-99 win over his former team Sixers. AFP, REUTERS
