Celtics snap Cavs' 15-game unbeaten start to NBA season

The defending NBA champions have held off the league's hottest team, with Jayson Tatum scoring 33 points and adding 12 rebounds to lead Boston to a 120-117 victory over Eastern Conference rivals Cleveland.

It was the Cavaliers' first loss after 15 straight wins to open the season.

Cleveland cut a 21-point deficit to two in the third quarter on Tuesday night at TD Garden, and Donovan Mitchell hit a rainbow three-pointer with 24 seconds left to make it a four-point game.

Tatum sank one of two free throws, then clobbered Mitchell at the other end, leaving the Cavs guard on the floor in need of medical attention.

Mitchell eventually stepped to the line and sank both free throws, but the Celtics inbounded the ball without trouble and passed it downcourt for an easy Al Horford dunk to clinch it.

Tatum sank six of the home side's 22 triples, and added seven assists for Boston's (12-3) third straight win.

Mitchell scored 35 points, and Evan Mobley had 22 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland, who were the fourth team in NBA history to open the season with 15 wins in a row.

The Celtics scored 19 of the last 26 points in the second quarter to turn a five-point lead into a 65-48 advantage at the break, before Cleveland cut a 21-point deficit to two points in the third.

In New York, Australian Ben Simmons scored 10 points as his Brooklyn Nets registered a nail-biting 116-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

It was the first time Simmons had scored double-figures this season and the first since February 10 against San Antonio, when he scored 13.

The Australian also had eight rebounds and five assists against the Hornets.

His Brooklyn teammate Cam Johnson scored 34 points and Dennis Schroder had 14 points and 12 assists.

Charlotte's Brandon Miller missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game with 1.1 seconds left. Grant Williams then tipped the ball as time expired.

Jalen Wilson had 17 points and Dorian Finney-Smith added 15 as Brooklyn snapped a three-game skid.

Trendon Watford scored the Nets' last seven points in the final two minutes and finished with 10 points off the bench.

Miller had 29 points, Miles Bridges 21 and reserve Tre Mann 19 as the Hornets lost for the fourth time in five games.

Australian Josh Green managed four rebounds, one assist and three points for Charlotte.

In Los Angeles, Dalton Knecht tied the NBA's single-game rookie record with nine three-pointers while scoring a career-high 37 points, as the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 124-118 for their sixth consecutive victory.

LeBron James had 26 points and 12 assists, and Anthony Davis 26 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers improved to 7-0 at home.

Lauri Markkanen scored 25 points for the Jazz, who have lost three straight.

In Memphis, Jamal Murray scored 27 points and Michael Porter Jr added 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets snapped a two-game losing streak with a 122-110 win over the Grizzlies.

In Dallas, Luka Doncic scored a game-high 26 points, Klay Thompson added 19 and Kyrie Irving had 18 as the Mavericks beat the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans 132-91.

And in San Antonio, the Spurs scored a gritty 110-104 win over the visiting Oklahoma City.