Day 3 of the NBA Cup delivered pleasure and drama, that includes marquee matchups and standout performances. From the Celtics and Cavs’ intense battle to the Nets’ thrilling comeback towards the Hornets and the Lakers extending their dominance, every sport showcased the event’s rising stakes. Right here’s a recap of the action-packed evening.
Cavs vs. Celtics
Coming into Day 3 of the NBA Cup, the matchup between the Cavaliers and Celtics was probably the most anticipated sport but. The Cavaliers, boasting top-of-the-line information within the league, confronted off towards the reigning NBA champions, the Celtics, in a battle of group success versus uncooked expertise. After shedding their first NBA Cup sport to the Hawks, the Celtics had been seeking to bounce again, whereas Cleveland aimed to start out the event 2-0. The sport delivered on the hype, with each groups buying and selling runs earlier than the Celtics pulled off a hard-fought win, 120-117, on their brilliant inexperienced residence courtroom in Boston.
Celtics
The Celtics had been led by a standout efficiency from Jayson Tatum, who posted a formidable stat line of 33 factors, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Whereas Tatum shone, this victory was really a group effort. Six Celtics gamers scored in double figures, every contributing a number of three-pointers. Within the first half, Boston dominated from past the arc, taking pictures an astounding 14-of-22 from three-point vary, which, coupled with robust protection, gave them a cushty lead heading into halftime.
Within the second half, their taking pictures cooled, and a 21-point lead shrank to 5 by the tip of the third quarter. Nonetheless, Al Horford emerged as an surprising hero, offering well timed defensive stops and hitting 4-of-5 from three-point vary. The Celtics’ defensive versatility proved essential within the fourth quarter. When the sport tightened, Boston attacked Cleveland’s weakest defender, Darius Garland, and capitalized on defensive rotations to search out open shooters. The Celtics improved to 1-1 in NBA Cup play.
Cavaliers
The Cavaliers entered this sport with the second-best begin in NBA historical past, trailing solely the 2016 Warriors. Regardless of a robust displaying, they had been lacking key contributors: Caris LeVert (knee), Dean Wade (ankle), Max Strus (ankle), and Isaac Okoro (ankle). Every of those gamers might have added helpful dimensions to Cleveland’s sport—LeVert’s isolation scoring, Wade and Strus’ floor-spacing, and Okoro’s protection on Tatum.
Even shorthanded, Cleveland confirmed resilience. Evan Mobley (22 factors, 11 rebounds) and Donovan Mitchell (35 factors) stored the Cavaliers aggressive. Garland struggled towards Boston’s measurement on protection and couldn’t comprise their wings late within the sport. Regardless of chopping a 21-point deficit to only two on 5 separate events, the Celtics proved too robust in crunch time. Cleveland fell to 1-1 within the NBA Cup.
Nets vs. Hornets
This under-the-radar matchup became an exhilarating fourth-quarter battle. The Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets, two younger and promising groups, stunned many early this season by securing high quality wins. Each groups entered the evening 0-1 within the event, with the loser going through elimination from rivalry.
Hornets
The Hornets, quietly one of many league’s most entertaining groups, are led by LaMelo Ball and rising star Brandon Miller. Complementing them is a robust supporting forged, together with Miles Bridges, Tre Mann, and Moussa Diabaté, one of many league’s greatest rebounders. Charlotte began scorching, constructing a 17-point lead within the first half. Miller impressed with 29 factors, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a couple of blocks.
Nonetheless, errors started to creep in, permitting Brooklyn to claw again into the sport. Tre Mann offered a spark with a thunderous dunk within the third quarter, ending with 19 factors and 6 rebounds. The fourth quarter took a weird flip as LaMelo was benched simply three minutes in, regardless of being one of many league’s prime clutch performers. Ball returned later however completed taking pictures 3-of-13. The Hornets had an opportunity to power extra time however missed. Regardless of taking pictures a formidable 54% from three (20-of-37), Charlotte dropped to 0-2 within the NBA Cup.
Nets
The Brooklyn Nets proceed to defy expectations on this younger season. Projected to be among the many league’s worst, they’ve proven constant competitiveness. Even with out key gamers—Cam Thomas (again), Nic Claxton (again), and Day’Ron Sharpe (hamstring)—the Nets rallied. Missing measurement, their tallest lively gamers had been 6’10” Noah Clowney and Ben Simmons, each of whom performed restricted minutes.
Brooklyn overcame a major early deficit with a 30-13 run that spanned the second and third quarters. Cam Johnson (34 factors) and Dennis Schröder (14 factors, 12 assists) led the cost, however it was Trenton Watford’s surprising heroics down the stretch that secured the win. The Nets improved to 1-1 within the NBA Cup.
Lakers vs. Jazz
The Lakers seemed to proceed their NBA Cup dominance towards the rebuilding Utah Jazz. Each groups entered their second event sport with vastly completely different expectations: the Lakers as championship contenders and the Jazz as a group nonetheless figuring out their core for the longer term. Los Angeles emerged victorious, 124-118.
Lakers
The Lakers prolonged their NBA Cup document to 9-0, sustaining their undefeated streak in event historical past. Rookie Dalton Knecht was the star of the evening, scoring 37 factors on 12-of-16 taking pictures, together with 9-of-12 from three. Knecht’s red-hot taking pictures helped the Lakers construct a 25-point lead early within the fourth quarter. The Jazz mounted a comeback when his streak cooled, chopping the result in two possessions.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis closed the sport, combining for 52 factors, 26 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Lakers relied on their trademark strengths: rebounding and free-throw taking pictures, with 40.7% of their fourth-quarter factors coming from the road. Whereas their 55% taking pictures evening was spectacular, the Lakers want higher bench manufacturing; starters accounted for 88.7% of their factors. Los Angeles improved to 2-0 on this yr’s NBA Cup.
Jazz
The Jazz stay in rebuild mode however confirmed combat regardless of falling to 0-2 within the NBA Cup. Lauri Markkanen, who scored 25 factors and grabbed 8 rebounds, continues to be a focus, at the same time as commerce rumors linger within the offseason. 4 different double-digit scorers supported him, whereas rookie Isaiah Collier impressed along with his point-of-attack protection.
Utah battled again from an early deficit, responding to Knecht’s taking pictures show with a 43-point fourth quarter—nevertheless, their lack of ability to safe key rebounds or keep away from fouling late price them. The Jazz are actually just about eradicated from NBA Cup rivalry however can take positives from their aggressive spirit.
Fastbreak
Nuggets vs. Grizzlies:
Each groups have been hit laborious by unhealthy damage luck this season. Russell Westbrook grew to become the primary participant in NBA historical past to realize 200 triple-doubles. The Nuggets picked up the win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Thunder vs. Spurs:
No Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama matchup forged a shadow over what might have been a probably intriguing sport. The Spurs secured the win because of a robust efficiency from Chris Paul, who posted 14 factors and 11 assists.
Mavericks vs. Pelicans:
This sport was over by halftime because the Mavericks constructed a 20-point lead. Luka Dončić remains to be working to regain his effectivity, however the dynamic backcourt of Dončić and Kyrie Irving contributed 26 factors, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, together with 8 factors and seven assists, respectively, because the Mavericks crushed the Pelicans.
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