Cavaliers tie NBA record of 15 straight wins

The Cleveland Cavaliers, the best team of the NBA regular season, beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-104 on Tuesday to string together 15 straight wins.

It is the second time the Cavs have reached this streak in this same season, a record only previously achieved by five teams.

The Eastern Conference leaders had to put in a huge final effort to defeat the Nets, who sit second-to-last in the division, all without their star player, Donovan Mitchell.

Point guard Darius Garland scored 18 of his 30 points in the final quarter, helping the hosts rally after starting the period down 78-86.

The Nets were down by 18 points (71-53) midway through the third quarter before Cleveland mounted a comeback to extend its winning streak.

Centers Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, who scored 23 and 21 points respectively, played crucial roles against the Nets, whose top scorer was Cam Thomas with 27 points.

The Cavaliers, who have not lost since February 4, had already won the first 15 games this season.

Only five franchises have recorded this streak twice in a single season: the Phoenix Suns (2006-07), Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2000), Utah Jazz (1996-97), Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71), and Washington Capitols (1946-47).

Cleveland secured a spot in the playoffs and clinched first place in the Central division for the first time since the 2017-2018 academic year, when it was led by LeBron James.

Haliburton scores against Bucks

In one of four games on Tuesday, Tyrese Haliburton secured a 115-114 victory for the Indiana Pacers over the Milwaukee Bucks with a spectacular four-point play in the final moments.

With the Pacers trailing 111-114 and just 3.9 seconds remaining, the point guard received the ball on the wing and sank a brilliant three-pointer on the run, all while drawing a personal foul from Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Haliburton converted the free throw, and Antetokounmpo missed a desperate final shot as the Pacers' crowd erupted in celebration. The Pacers, a direct rival of the Bucks for playoff positioning, reveled in the thrilling victory.

Antetokounmpo finished with 19 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists but it wasn't enough to prevent the Bucks' third loss.

For the Pacers, Haliburton had 14 points and 10 assists and Cameroon's Pascal Siakam reached 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Milwaukee holds fourth place in the East, tied with the Pacers and Detroit Pistons.

Detroit, one of the season's biggest surprises, defeated the Washington Wizards, the worst team in the regular season, 123-109 on Tuesday.

Point guard Cade Cunningham once again led the Pistons' offense with 27 points and 10 assists, while center Jalen Duren added 15 points and 13 rebounds on the court.

To close out the night, the New Orleans Pelicans, second-to-last in the West, stunned the Los Angeles Clippers with a 127-120 victory on their home court, powered by Zion Williamson's triple-double of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists.