Monday’s games—there were 10 of them—delivered the goods, with thrilling finishes and high drama the overriding themes. We highlight the best ones below:
Cavs Get Back at Celtics with Mighty Endgame Comeback
The Cleveland Cavaliers (18-3) got a measure of payback against the Boston Celtics (16-4) on Monday, overcoming a double-digit deficit to notch a hard-earned 115-111 triumph over the defending champs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Cs, who dealt the Cavs their first loss of the 2024–25 NBA Season, looked headed for a repeat as they held a 12-point lead with less than six minutes left. Then, Donovan Mitchell took over, scoring 16 of his game-high 35 points in the Cavs’ 34-18 finishing kick to overtake Boston.
Mitchell also had 7 rebounds and 3 assists for the Cavs. His backcourt partner, Darius Garland, added 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jayson Tatum paced the Cs with 33 points and 8 rebounds, while Kristaps Porzingis had 21 points and 8 rebounds. Peyton Pritchard added 24 off the bench for the Celtics.
(Up next: Celtics vs. Miami Heat on December 3 and Cavs vs. Washington Wizards on December 4)
Rockets Survive Thunder in Early Game-of-the-Year Candidate
Two of the Western Conference’s best teams engaged in a riveting back-and-forth on Monday, and the Houston Rockets (15-6) did just enough to survive the Oklahoma City Thunder (15-5), 119-116, at Toyota Center for their third straight win and fifth in their last six.
Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 38 for the Rockets, who also got 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists from big man Alperen Sengun. Dillon Brooks added 16 markers, including a short jumper that put Houston ahead for good after a 113-tie.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder once more with 32 points, 8 boards, and n5 dimes, while Isaiah Hartenstein stood tall for OKC, putting up 19 points and 13 boards. With the loss, the Thunder and Rockets are nearly tied for first place in the West.
(Up next: Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings and Thunder vs. Jazz on December 4)
Lakers Escape Jazz as Will Hardy Calls Ill-Timed Timeout
Anthony Davis scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to power the Los Angeles Lakers (12-8) to a 105-104 triumph over the Utah Jazz (4-16) at Delta Center.
It was far from easy, though, as the young Jazz, led by Laurki Markannen’s 22 points and 7 rebounds, refused to fold against the mighty Purple and Gold. In fact, it appeared the Jazz had taken a 106-105 lead near the end after Collin Sexton made a lay-up in semi-transition. But the basket was waved off as Utah head coach Will Hardy had called timeout.
Postgame, Davis said he probably would have blocked Sexton’s lay-up, pointing out he had stopped playing when he heard the whistle for the timeout. True or not, Sexton certainly had a lane to the basket, and now Jazz fans can only surmise what could have happened had Hardy let his team play in the final seconds.
(Up next: Jazz vs. Thunder on December 4 and Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves on December 3)
