LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers roared back to form with a 124-117 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.
The Eastern Conference leaders arrived in Minneapolis having lost two of their three previous games including a 134-114 rout by the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
But after finding themselves 11 points down early in the first quarter on Saturday, the Cavs sparked to life to run out convincing winners and improve to 35-6.
Mitchell was once more the talisman, combining with Darius Garland for 65 of Cleveland’s points. Mitchell finished with 36 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, including four three-pointers.
Garland added 29 points, including five-of-10 from three-point range.
Anthony Edwards topped the Timberwolves scoring with 28 points including four three-pointers, while Julius Randle narrowly missed out on a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
In Boston, Trae Young scored 28 points as the Atlanta Hawks upset the National Basketball Association champion Boston Celtics 119-115 in an overtime thriller that saw the lead change hands no fewer than 17 times.
Boston started smoothly and opened up a 12-point lead early on before Atlanta came roaring back, outscoring the Celtics 31-15 in the second quarter to take a 52-48 halftime lead.
Boston restored their advantage after half-time and led by 10 in the fourth quarter, yet Atlanta forced overtime with two late free throws from Young in the final seconds.
Atlanta’s defense held firm in overtime, thwarting Boston’s offense to give the Hawks a memorable road victory.
Atlanta improved to 22-19 with the win while the Celtics remain second in the Eastern Conference with a 29-13 record.
Although the defeat was Boston’s second in three games this week, coach Joe Mazzulla said he was relishing the challenge of getting the champions back on track.
“There is no fear — I’m actually more excited at this juncture of the season than I was at the beginning,” Mazzulla said.
“This is what you sign up for. This is the fun part. There’s zero fear whatsoever.”
In Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers with a 115-102 win.