Payton Pritchard scored a season-high 42 points and Jaylen Brown collected his fourth career triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, allowing the visiting Boston Celtics to edge the Cleveland Cavaliers, 117-115, yesterday (Philippine time).

Cleveland trailed 110-99 with 1:49 remaining but had an opportunity to win it at the buzzer on Evan Mobley’s off-target jump shot. Darius Garland pulled the Cavaliers within 116-115 on a three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left before Brown split two free throws with 0.6 on the clock.

Anfernee Simons added 18 points off the bench and Jordan Walsh posted career-bests with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who built a 21-point lead before Cleveland mounted its unsuccessful comeback.

Mobley scored 17 of his 27 points in the second half and had 14 rebounds. Garland had 21 points and eight assists, while Donovan Mitchell also made a run at a triple-double with 18 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for the Cavaliers.

Pritchard made 15-of-22 field-goal attempts, including six three-pointers, and 6-of-6 from the foul line.

Cleveland has lost three straight and four of its last six games.

The Celtics took command midway through the third, using a 21-6 run featuring four baskets from Pritchard and capped by his 32-footer to take the largest lead of the night at 86-65 with 4:56 to go.

Pritchard scored 18 points and Simons had 16 in the first half, giving Boston a 58-51 lead at intermission. Brown collected nine points, nine boards and six assists, while Mobley paced the Cavaliers with 10 points and six rebounds.

The Celtics sprinted ahead 13-2 with Pritchard scoring eight points in the first two minutes. Pritchard finished the quarter with 10 points and Brown compiled five points and seven rebounds as Boston held a 28-26 advantage. (Field Level Media / Reuters)