Extending the Boston Celtics’ impressive winning streak seemed to be just a formality. But a 22-point lead with nine minutes to go was not enough against the Cleveland Cavaliers because a man named Dean Wade had something against it
The “Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse” in Cleveland hasn’t seen a game like this for a long time (if you exclude Max Strus’ miracle shot against Dallas a few days ago). When the final buzzer sounded, many Cavs fans looked at each other in disbelief. Their team had just won 105:104. Against no less an opponent than the superior Boston Celtics (48-13), who had traveled to Ohio with eleven wins in a row – and were still leading 93-71 with nine minutes to play.
Wade hits the swimming pool
But the Cavs didn’t let themselves down, especially one of them. Forward Dean Wade got really hot from then on, converting all seven of his shots (including five threes) for a total of 20 points in the fourth quarter alone (23 in total). The 27-year-old normally averages around five points per game, but this time “the ring was as big as a swimming pool”, said the match winner afterwards. In the end, the biggest comeback in Cavs history in a fourth quarter was perfect. And that was without All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who was missing due to knee ligaments.
Boston still hoped for a turnaround in the final attack, but the foul initially attributed to Jayson Tatum (26 points) was revoked after a review. Perfect was this miraculous victory for the Cavs (40-21), who are in third place in the East, while the Celtics continue to hold a commanding lead.
Magic molt – Nets fight back
Further down the table, the Orlando Magic (36-26) have turned into a really strong team. And so the 101:89 win at the Charlotte Hornets (15-47) can quickly be ticked off as a must-win, to which Paolo Banchero contributed 20 points, Moritz Wagner 11 and Franz Wagner a slim eight by his standards.
The Magic are already fourth after four wins in a row, which the Brooklyn Nets (eleventh with 25-37) would love to be. At least the team from New York City kept its chances of at least making the play-in tournament alive with a 112-107 win against the heavily depleted Philadelphia 76ers (without Embiid, without Maxey; 35-26). Dennis Schröder played strongly and was one of the protagonists with 20 points and eight assists.
Between the Magic and the Nets, the New York Knicks are in fifth place, but suffered a 100-116 defeat against the Nets’ rival Atlanta Hawks (10th with 27-34). Isaiah Hartenstein started and scored five points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. The Knicks are currently missing top players Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle due to injury.
Doncic’s next gala is not enough
Another look to the West: With Maximilian Kleber (one rebound) scoring no points, the Dallas Mavericks (34-28) lost 120:137 at home to the Indiana Pacers (35-28). Even another triple-double from Luka Doncic (39 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) did not help – it was the fourth with more than 30 points in a row. After three defeats in a row, the Texans are in danger of dropping out of the top six in the conference.
Champions Denver Nuggets (42-20) lost 107-117 in front of their home crowd after overtime against the Phoenix Suns (36-26), who were led to victory by Kevin Durant (35 points) with eight points in overtime.
