Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 129-123 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in a testy cross-conference NBA clash yesterday (Philippine time).
Ty Jerome scored 26 points off the bench, Evan Mobley added 25 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Jarrett Allen scored 13 points with 10 rebounds for Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland — who improved their league-best record to 47-10.
The Grizzlies, second in the Western Conference and coming off a come-from-behind victory in Orlando, were led by Jaren Jackson, Jr.’s 22 points.
Ja Morant added 21 points and 10 assists for Memphis, who trailed 62-56 at halftime, but briefly seized a one-point lead early in the third quarter.
Cleveland were back on top and both coaches had already received technical fouls when a scuffle erupted midway through the third quarter, where Mitchell and Desmond Bane got into a scuffle chasing a loose ball and ended up wrestling on the court.
Security rushed in, as did players from each team. Mitchell and Bane both received technical fouls, as did Morant and Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said he was only sorry that multiple players got involved.
“Stay out of the way and let the two guys tussle, everybody else stays out of it,” he said.
The Grizzlies kept clawing until the end, slicing an 11-point deficit with 5:54 to play to three with 42.4 seconds on the clock, but the Cavs closed it out at the free-throw line.
The reigning champion Boston Celtics, fueled by a near triple-double from Jayson Tatum, cruised to a 118-105 victory over the New York Knicks.
Tatum scored 25 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Celtics, who led by as many as 27, thwarted a Knicks comeback bid to post a fifth straight victory.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Knicks, who trailed 77-50 early in the third quarter but cut the deficit to four points early in the fourth.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Derrick White launched a Celtics surge, with the Knicks’ cause further hurt by a right leg injury to Towns, who limped to the bench after a drive to the basket and appeared to be hindered when he returned to the game.
“Second half of the season, we all know it’s time to lock in,” Tatum said.
In San Francisco, Stephen Curry poured in 30 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 126-102 victory over Dallas.
Jimmy Butler, acquired at the trade deadline, scored 18 points for the Warriors in his home debut.
The win was part of a celebratory afternoon on which the Warriors retired the jersey of Andre Iguodala, a four-time champion with the team. (Agence France-Presse)