Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-117 in an exciting comeback victory on Saturday, MySportDab Reports.
The victory was the Eastern Conference leaders’ response to a lackluster stretch, including a lopsided 134-114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
The Cavaliers rallied from an early 11-point deficit, with Mitchell teaming with Darius Garland for 65 of Cleveland’s points. Mitchell scored 36 points, with eight rebounds and seven assists, and Garland added 29, with five threes. The victory upped Cleveland’s record to 35-6.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards topped the Timberwolves with 28 points, including four three-pointers. Julius Randle came up just short of a triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
In Boston, the Atlanta Hawks dealt the defending NBA champion Celtics a stunning 119-115 overtime defeat as the teams traded 17 lead changes. Trae Young led the Hawks with 28 points, including a pair of clutch free throws to send the game into overtime.
Atlanta’s defence stiffened in the extra session and the upset followed, boosting their record to 22-19. The Celtics, now 29-13, are still in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Boston Coach Joe Mazzulla Maintained an Elated Tone After the Defeat. “This is the fun part. There is no fear at all,” he said.
Elsewhere, the Indiana Pacers rolled by the Philadelphia 76ers, 115-102. Tyrese Maxey had 28 for the Sixers, but Indiana’s balanced offence — with the number of Hill and Hoosier boys to keep track of — and six players in double figures more than countered.
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 71 points to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Pistons, 125-121, in Detroit. Durant scored 36 points, while Booker contributed 35, pushing the Suns to 21-20 in the Western Conference standings.
Finally, also in San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors beat the Washington Wizards, 122-114. Even with Jordan Poole scoring 38 points against his old team, Andrew Wiggins (31 points) and Stephen Curry (26 points) lifted the Warriors to victory. Curry left late with an ankle issue but should be good to go Monday.
