Celtics give Cavaliers their first loss of the season
November 21, 2024
The biggest story in the NBA this season is the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers went through their first 15 games undefeated. However, all great things have to come to an end. On Tuesday at the Toronto Dominion Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, the Celtics gave the Cavaliers their first loss of the season, as the reigning NBA Champions beat Cleveland 120-117.
All five Celtics starters reached double digits in scoring. Forward Jayson Tatum of St. Louis, Missouri led the Celtics with a double-double as he had a team-high 33 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Meanwhile, center Al Horford of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic had 20 points, guard Derrick White of Parker, Colorado had 19 points, reigning NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown of Marietta, Georgia had 17 points, and guard Jrue Holiday of Chatsworth, California had 11 points. Meanwhile, guard Payton Pritchard of Tualatin, Oregon also reached double digits as he scored 13 points off the bench.
The Celtics won due to a strong first half. In the first 24 minutes, they outscored the Cavaliers 65-48. Cleveland dominated the second half as they outscored Boston 69-55. On two occasions in the final nine minutes Cleveland pulled to within a basket, but this was as close that they got.
While Cleveland is first in the East, Boston is second at 12 wins and three losses. The only three teams to beat the Celtics this season are the Indiana Pacers (135-132 in overtime on October 30), the Golden State Warriors (118-112 on November 6), and the Atlanta Hawks (117-116 on November 12). The Celtics got a scare from the Toronto Raptors on November 16, but got a three-point buzzer beater in overtime from Tatum in a 126-123 Boston win.
Tatum has one of three buzzer beaters this season. On November 6, Brandon Miller had the game-winning field goal for the Charlotte Hornets in a 108-107 win over the Detroit Pistons, and on November 17, Julius Randle had a game-winning three point shot for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 120-117 win over the Phoenix Suns.
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