By ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, to help the Cleveland Cavaliers rally from 22 points down and stun the Boston Celtics, 123-116, on Friday night, Feb. 28, in the final regular-season meeting of the Eastern Conference’s top two teams.
Darius Garland added 20 points and seven assists. Evan Mobley finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for his 27th double-double to give Cleveland a split in the four-game series with the playoffs just over two months away.
Jayson Tatum finished with 46 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. Jaylen Brown added 37 points, marking the first time Boston’s top stars both posted 30-point games this season.
The Cavaliers had all of their players available, while the Celtics played without starters Jrue Holiday (finger) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).
It did nothing to stymie the Celtics early as they sprinted out to a 25-3 lead. But after a cold start the Cavs responded, going on a 41-22 run to get back into the game.
The victory, even without the Celtics at full strength, is a huge mental boost for a Cavs team that was eliminated 4-1 by the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs last season.
Boston is now just 18-11 at home.
Meanwhile in New York, Shaedon Sharpe scored 25 points, Dalano Banton had 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, and the Portland Trail Blazers cruised to a 121-102 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Toumani Camara had 19 points, Anfernee Simons chipped in 14, and Donovan Clingan finished with 12 for the Trail Blazers, who extended their winning streak to four games.
Cam Thomas scored 16 points in 21 minutes in his return to the Brooklyn lineup after missing 24 games due to a left hamstring strain.
Nic Claxton and Killian Hayes each had 16 points for the Nets, who have lost their last three games.
Portland led by 21 points in the early minutes of the third quarter before the Nets cut the lead to nine heading into the final period.
Thomas fed Claxton for an alley-oop dunk to make it 96-84 with 10:20 to play in the fourth quarter before the Trail Blazers put the game out of reach with a 13-4 run capped by seven straight points from Banton.
In Miami, Davion Mitchell’s 3-pointer broke a tie with 43.8 seconds left, Tyler Herro scored 29 points and the Heat topped the Indiana Pacers, 125-120.
Duncan Robinson scored 20 for Miami, which shot 57% — and has shot 58% in its last two games, tying the seventh-best two-game span in team history. Bam Adebayo scored 18 for Miami.
Pascal Siakam scored 36 for Indiana, while Myles Turner added 22 and Tyrese Haliburton had 19 points and 10 assists. The Pacers made 12 of their first 15 3-pointers, then went 9 for 24 from deep the rest of the way.
In Memphis, OG Anunoby made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 5.3 seconds remaining, finishing with 19 points as the New York Knicks beat the Grizzlies, 114-113.
Anunoby’s basket came after the teams exchanged leads in the final two minutes. Memphis had the last possession, but Ja Morant’s layup attempt rolled off the front of the rim, and a tip by Santi Aldama was off the mark.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 23 points and six assists. Deuce McBride had 17 points off the bench and Mikal Bridges scored 15.
In Atlanta, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder continued their overwhelming dominance of the Eastern Conference by beating the Hawks, 135-119.
Luguentz Dort scored 20 points and led Oklahoma City’s long-range assault by shooting 6 of 11 on 3-pointers. Jalen Williams also scored 20 points for the Thunder.
Oklahoma City never trailed and improved to 21-1 against the Eastern Conference. The Thunder (48-11), who have the Western Conference’s top record, are 27-10 against the West.
