Cleveland cruise to record 16th straight win, Boston clinch
The Cleveland Cavaliers romped to a franchise record 16th straight victory on Friday, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 133-124 to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland, who had been forced to overcome a double-digit deficit in Tuesday's win over Brooklyn, had no such difficulty in Friday's clash in Tennessee.
The Cavs, who have already clinched their place in the postseason, maintained their charge towards securing the Eastern Conference No.1 seeding with a dominant offensive display.
Cleveland -- who have now won 20 of their last 21 games -- took a stranglehold on the contest with 75 points in the first half to open up a hefty 18-point cushion at the break.
Memphis, who came into Friday's game on a run of four straight wins, never looked like reeling in the visitors in the second half as Cleveland closed out a victory that sees them improve to 56-10.
Evan Mobley led the Cavs' scoring with 22 points while Darius Garland finished with 20. Seven Cleveland players finished in double figures.
Ja Morant led Memphis with a season-high 44 points in a losing effort.
Cleveland now lead the second-placed Boston Celtics by 8.5 games.
The reigning NBA champion Celtics bounced back from Wednesday's home defeat to Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City with a 103-91 road victory against the Miami Heat that officially booked their playoff ticket.
Derrick White helped close the deal for Boston, rattling in 12 fourth quarter points as the Celtics outscored Miami 25-14 in the final frame to clinch a win that lifts them to 48-19 in the East.
Jayson Tatum led Boston's scoring with 28 points, including five three-pointers, while Jrue Holiday finished with 25.
Andrew Wiggins top-scored for Miami with 23 points.
- Lakers pipped in thriller -
A thrilling game in Denver meanwhile saw the injury-ravaged Los Angeles Lakers come within a whisker of snatching an improbable victory over the Nuggets before the hosts squeezed home 131-126.
The Lakers, missing starters LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes, clawed their way back from a 13-point third quarter deficit to edge into the lead in the final minute after 37 points from Austin Reaves and 32 points from rookie Dalton Knecht.
But hopes of victory were dashed in the dying seconds, with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook combining for eight unanswered points to give Denver victory.
Denver star Jokic finished with 28 points, with Murray adding 26 and Christian Braun 22. Denver improved to 43-24 and are second in the West, while the Lakers (40-25) dropped to fifth after their fourth straight loss.
In Atlanta, the Los Angeles Clippers poured in 68 second-half points to climb out of an 11-point halftime hole and thrash the Hawks 121-98.
James Harden led the fightback for the Clippers, scoring 13 points as the visitors outscored Atlanta 35-8 in the third quarter.
Harden and Kawhi Leonard both scored 25 points apiece. with Ivica Zubac adding 18.
The win leaves the Clippers lurking in eighth position in the Western Conference on 36-30, just outside the top six postseason berths.
In other games on Friday, the Houston Rockets took their unbeaten streak to five games with a 133-96 pummeling of the Dallas Mavericks, Tari Eason leading the rout with 30 points, with support from Jalen Green (23 points).
The in-form Rockets climbed into third place in the Western Conference on 42-25.
The Indiana Pacers moved to 37-28 for the season after defeating the hapless Philadelphia 76ers 112-100. The Sixers slumped to their 44th defeat of a miserable season after squandering a 16-point second-quarter lead.
rcw/bb
Topics
-
Mobley helps Cavs win franchise-record 16th straight, beat Grizzlies 133-124
Evan Mobley had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Darius Garland added 20 points and nine assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers recorded a franchise-record 16th straight victory with a 133-124 win over the ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Cavs win franchise-best 16th straight, top Grizz
Evan Mobley had 22 points, Darius Garland added 20 and the Cavaliers recorded a franchise-record 16th straight victory with a 133-124 win over the Grizzlies on Friday night.ESPN - 4h -
Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies score: Cavs run winning streak to team-record 16 with road victory
Evan Mobley had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a team-record 16th consecutive win Friday at the Memphis Grizzlies.Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets: for March 14
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Memphis Grizzlies PreviewYahoo Sports - 17h -
Has Madison Keys forgotten how to lose? American wins 16th straight to make Indian Wells semifinal
Keys needed just an hour and four minutes to win her 16th straight match as she continues to reach new heights late in her careerYahoo Sports - 1d -
Cavs win 15th straight for 2nd time this season
The NBA-leading Cavaliers rallied from 18 down in the third quarter to beat the Nets and match the longest winning streak in franchise history.ESPN - 3d -
How many points did Zach Edey score tonight? Grizzlies vs Cavs box score
Here's how Zach Edey fared in his 51st NBA game for the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Can the Cavaliers win 70 games? Cleveland quietly pursuing NBA history as they extend winning streak to 15
Cleveland needs to finish the season 15-2 to reach 70 wins, something only two other NBA teams have accomplishedCBS Sports - 3d -
Timberwolves rally to beat Magic 118-111 for their 7th straight victory
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Orlando Magic 118-111 on Friday night for their seventh straight victoryABC News - 6h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
MAC Tournament | Brothers lead Akron, Miami men's basketball teams into championship game
The 2025 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament championship features brothers John Groce of Akron and Travis Steele of Miami coaching against each other.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Bengals appear to have big plans for Joseph Ossai in 2025
Joseph Ossai is back and primed for a big role.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Dodgers' Betts dealing with illness in Japan, Roberts hopeful he'll be ready for opening day
Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers' two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. Roberts said he's still hopeful that the ...Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Exhausted Real Madrid to hand 25-year-old a start vs Villarreal with teenage sensation also in plans
Real Madrid are set to face Villarreal in what is expected to be one of their toughest away fixtures in La Liga this season. With the game taking place just days after an intense and exhausting ...Yahoo Sports - 23m -
F1 2025 season: Calendar, driver lineups, sprints and testing
The 2025 Formula One season is under way, with qualifying for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix completed. Lando Norris took pole ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. Defending champion Max ...Yahoo Sports - 26m
More in Sports
-
MAC Tournament | Brothers lead Akron, Miami men's basketball teams into championship game
The 2025 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament championship features brothers John Groce of Akron and Travis Steele of Miami coaching against each other.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Bengals appear to have big plans for Joseph Ossai in 2025
Joseph Ossai is back and primed for a big role.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Dodgers' Betts dealing with illness in Japan, Roberts hopeful he'll be ready for opening day
Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers' two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. Roberts said he's still hopeful that the ...Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Exhausted Real Madrid to hand 25-year-old a start vs Villarreal with teenage sensation also in plans
Real Madrid are set to face Villarreal in what is expected to be one of their toughest away fixtures in La Liga this season. With the game taking place just days after an intense and exhausting ...Yahoo Sports - 23m -
F1 2025 season: Calendar, driver lineups, sprints and testing
The 2025 Formula One season is under way, with qualifying for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix completed. Lando Norris took pole ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. Defending champion Max ...Yahoo Sports - 26m