Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) shoots a foul shot in front of teammate Drew Peterson (13) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) late in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) AP

Payton Pritchard jumps too quickly off the free throw line, turning the ball over and putting the Cavaliers in position to win.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla could have inserted Pritchard into the starting lineup for Sunday’s showdown with the Cavaliers after Derrick White (foot) and Jaylen Brown (illness) were scratched, but with Pritchard meshing well with the second unit and emerging as a top bench scorer,

Down two of their top three scorers, the Boston Celtics were unable to reclaim first place in the Eastern Conference on Sunday, falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-111. Boston squandered a 12-point fourth-quarter lead while starters Jaylen Brown and Derrick White sat out due to illness and injury,

Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Boston Celtics 115-111, ending their seven-game winning streak. Donovan Mitchell shines with 35 points.

Donovan Mitchell scored 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter as the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Boston’s seven-game winning streak with a 115-111 victory over the Celtics in the second intense matc

As the calendar flipped from November to December, the 2024 NBA Cup is close to advancing to its quarterfinal stage. The event has created excitement in an otherwise mundane part of the six-month schedule.

The Arizona Republic's latest NBA power rankings have the Cleveland Cavaliers back on top after taking down the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.