NBA: Donovan Mitchell scores 41 points in Cavaliers' win against Celtics

The Cleveland Cavaliers completed a dramatic comeback on Friday, overcoming a 22-point deficit to defeat the defending champion Boston Celtics 123-116 at TD Garden in Boston. Donovan Mitchell led the charge, scoring 41 points, including five three-pointers.

The win marks the Cavs' ninth consecutive victory in the NBA, extending their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference over their closest competitor.

The series between the top two teams in the East remains tied at two wins apiece after four games.

Defensive work in the second half was key to tonight's victory, as the Cavs limited the Celtics to just 24 points in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth.

Boston had six scorers in the game, with Jayson Tatum leading the way with 46 points, while Jaylen Brown added 37.

Denver Nuggets

In another game, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Detroit Pistons 134-119, handing the Pistons their first loss after an eight-game winning streak.

Nikola Jokić, a strong candidate for the Most Valuable Player award, posted another triple-double with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists.

The Pistons took a five-point lead early in the first quarter but lost it, and the Nuggets never looked back. Denver led by as many as 25 points, thanks to an inspired performance by Jamal Murray, who scored 31 points.

Denver, coming off a Thursday night loss to Milwaukee, bounced back to secure its 39th win of the season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 135-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, has now recorded 34 games with at least 30 points in the 2024-2025 season.

Thunder starting center Chet Holmgren, who missed 40 games this season due to a fractured pelvis, left the game with a left ankle injury after playing just 15 minutes and did not return.