Celtics end Cavaliers’ historic winning streak

BOSTON: Defending NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics, brought an end to the Cavaliers historic winning streak, as they beat Cleveland 120-117.

The Cleveland Cavaliers became only the 4th team in NBA history to win the first 15 games of their season after defeating the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, November 18. The Cavaliers were tied for second, alongside the 1993-94 Houston Rockets, and the 1948-49 Washington Capitols. They trailed only behind the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who won the first 24 games of their season. However, the Cavaliers dreams of possibly taking the throne were crushed by the very team who most recently tasted gold, the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics have had an incredible opening to the season themselves, winning 12 games of the 15 they have played, placing them at second in the Eastern Conference.

THE GAME         

The Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell led all players in scoring with 35 points in the 40 minutes he played, shooting 44.8 per cent from the field as he sunk 13 of his 29 shots. Jayson Tatum had an equally impressive game for the Celtics, scoring 33 points in the 37 minutes he played, shooting 50 per cent from the field as 11 of his 22 shots found the bottom of the net. The Celtics star had an incredible shooting performance from deep, hitting six of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc.

Cleveland Cavaliers continue historic winning streak

Despite the game ending on a score of 120-117, the Celtics held the lead for the entire game after Al Horford hit a 3 early in the first to make the score six to four. The Cavaliers tried to claw their way back, but the Celtics continued to widen the gap, leading by 21 points in the third. However, near the end of the quarter, Cleveland had brought the game within two points, only for Tatum to hit a buzzer beater three to bring the lead back to five.

Cleveland would cut down the lead to two again after a three pointer from Craig Porter Jr, only for a dunk by Tatum and three from Payton Pritchard to put the Celtics up by seven again. With 30 seconds remaining, the Cavaliers were still trailing by seven. Mitchell would hit a long range three to bring the game within five. A couple fouls and a few free throws for each team later, the score was 115-118, with 15 seconds remaining. Horford would get one last dunk for the Celtics, putting them up by five with seven seconds remaining.

Mitchell would charge down the floor, launching a three that rattled off the rim, eventually reaching Ty Jerome, who hit a buzzer beater two. But, his last-ditch effort only reduced the lead to three, with not a second of play remaining.

After Tuesday’s win, the Celtics are now second in East Group C of the NBA Cup, with the Atlanta Hawks leading the group. The Cavaliers are tied with the Celtics, having won one and lost one of their two in-season tournament games.

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