LOS ANGELES, United States: 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 on Sunday.
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.
Their seventh straight win 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 on Friday, were led by Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 22 points.
Ja Morant added 21 points and 10 assists for Memphis, who trailed 62-56 at half time 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.
Players from each team got involved with both Mitchell and Bane receiving technical fouls along with 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 stay 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.
Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City also had to battle, finally beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-123 in a game that featured 18 lead changes.
League scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points with eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and three blocked shots for the Thunder, who improved to 46-10.
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.
The Detroit Pistons pushed their winning streak to six games with a 148-143 victory over the Hawks in Atlanta.
Cade Cunningham scored 38 points with 12 assists and seven rebounds and the Pistons turned back a Hawks rally that saw Atlanta take a one-point lead with 1:38 remaining.
Dennis Schroder scored 16 points, including a driving layup that put the Pistons up for good with 33.2 seconds left.
Elsewhere, Damian Lillard scored 28 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 23 points with 16 rebounds and seven assists for the Milwaukee Bucks in a 120-113 victory over the Miami Heat.
Six Bucks players scored in double figures as Milwaukee withstood a 40-point performance from Miami’s Tyler Herro.
Cavaliers hold off Grizzlies for seventh straight NBA win
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Cavaliers hold off Grizzlies for seventh straight NBA win
- Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 129-123 victory
- Their seventh straight win improves their NBA league-best record to 47-10
Hakimi, Salah and Osimhen head star-packed AFCON last-16 cast
- A star-studded cast led by Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen switch to knockout fare from Saturday, when the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in Morocco
RABAT: A star-studded cast led by Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen switch to knockout fare from Saturday, when the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in Morocco.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Hakimi was crowned 2025 African player of the year in November. Liverpool attacker Salah and Galatasaray striker Osimhen were the runners-up.
After 36 matches spread across six groups, the 16 survivors from 24 hopefuls clash in eight second-round matches over four days.
Fit-again Hakimi is set to lead title favorites Morocco against Tanzania, Salah will captain Egypt against Benin and Osimhen-inspired Nigeria tackle Mozambique.
AFP Sport looks at the match-ups that will determine which nations advance to the quarter-finals, and move one step closer to a record $10 million (8.5 million euros) first prize.
Senegal v Sudan
Veteran Sadio Mane and Paris Saint-Germain 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye, in two appearances off the bench, have been among the stars as 2022 champions Senegal confirmed why they are among the favorites by winning Group D. Sudan, representing a country ravaged by civil war since 2023, reached the second round despite failing to score. Their only Group F win, against Equatorial Guinea, came via an own goal.
Mali v Tunisia
“If we carry on playing like this we will not go much further,” warned Belgium-born Mali coach Tom Saintfiet after three Group A draws. Tunisia did well to hold Morocco, but were woeful against Nigeria until they trailed by three goals. The Carthage Eagles then scored twice and came close to equalising.
Morocco v Tanzania
A mismatch on paper as Morocco, whose only previous title came 50 years ago, are 101 places above Tanzania in the world rankings. The east Africans ended a 45-year wait to get past the first round thanks to two draws. Morocco boast a potent strike force of Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid and Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos. They have scored three goals each to share the Golden Boot lead with Algerian Riyad Mahrez.
South Africa v Cameroon
South Africa debuted in the AFCON 30 years ago by hammering Cameroon 3-0 in Johannesburg. It should be much closer when they meet a second time with only four places separating them in the world rankings. In pursuit of goals, South Africa will look to Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster while 19-year-old Christian Kofane struck a stunning match-winner for Cameroon against Mozambique.
Egypt v Benin
Struggling to score for Liverpool this season, Salah has regained his appetite for goals in southern Morocco. He claimed match winners against Zimbabwe and South Africa to win Group B. Benin celebrated their first AFCON win 25 years after debuting by edging Botswana. The Cheetahs are a compact, spirited outfit led by veteran striker Steve Mounie, but lack punch up front.
Nigeria v Mozambique
Livewire Osimhen is a huge aerial threat and could have scored hat-tricks against Tanzania and Tunisia in Group C, but managed just one goal. Fellow former African player of the year Ademola Lookman has also impressed. Mozambique lost 3-0 in their previous AFCON meeting with the Super Eagles 16 years ago. It is likely to be tighter this time with striker Geny Catamo posing a threat for the Mambas (snakes).
Algeria v DR Congo
The clash of two former champions is potentially the match of the round. It is the only tie involving two European coaches — Bosnian Vladimir Petkovic and Frenchman Sebastien Desabre. Algeria and Nigeria were the only teams to win all three group matches. Former Manchester City winger Mahrez has been an inspirational captain while scoring three times.
Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso
This is the only match featuring nations from the same region. Burkina Faso and defending champions Ivory Coast share a border in west Africa. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo was the only winner of two player-of-the-match awards in the group stage. The Ivorian now face impressive Burkinabe defenders Edmond Tapsoba and Issoufou Dayo.
