NBA: Pacers End Cavaliers’ Streak, Tatum Shines for Celtics, and Nuggets Fight Back
The Indiana Pacers stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, coming from 15 points behind to end the Cavaliers’ 12-game winning streak with a 108-93 victory. Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 19 points, while Pascal Siakam added 18 points and Myles Turner posted 15 points and 10 rebounds. Despite star guard Tyrese Haliburton leaving the game at half-time with a tight hamstring, the Pacers fought back to claim their sixth straight win.
Indiana handed Cleveland only their second home defeat of the season, with a strong second-half performance. Nembhard said, “We just had to play hard, play together, put more physicality in the game on the defensive side and play off that.” Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 20 points and seven assists. Cleveland had a 53-40 lead at half-time and extended it to 60-45 early in the third quarter, but the Pacers surged with a 37-18 third quarter. The Pacers’ bench outscored Cleveland’s 42-24, with Obi Toppin scoring 12 points.
In Boston, Jayson Tatum scored 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Boston Celtics narrowly defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119. The Pelicans, with Zion Williamson returning from suspension, led by 11 points in the first quarter. Trey Murphy III scored 30 points for the Pelicans, while Williamson added 16. Despite shooting poorly, the Celtics held on for the win.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled with his shooting, hitting only five of 17 attempts, but made 16 of 17 free throws to score 27 points in Oklahoma City’s dominant 136-95 win over the Washington Wizards. Aaron Wiggins contributed 23 points off the bench as the Thunder had seven players in double figures.
In Texas, the Denver Nuggets mounted an impressive comeback to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 115-103. Russell Westbrook scored 21 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists, while reigning MVP Nikola Jokic added 19 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists. The Nuggets outscored the Mavericks 33-12 in the fourth quarter, with Westbrook’s layup putting them ahead for good. Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 25 points, but they were again without star guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
In New York, Jalen Brunson scored 44 points to lead the Knicks to a 140-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Brunson set the tone with 23 points in the first quarter, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 30 points and 18 rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and Damian Lillard contributed 22 for the Bucks, but their three-game winning streak was snapped.
Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox made a strong return from injury, scoring 26 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 124-119 win over the Chicago Bulls. Domantas Sabonis added 22 points and 15 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points for the Bulls in his return to Sacramento, where he received a video tribute.
