With standout performances, dominant victories, and several standout individual performances, the action continued in the NBA Cup, with Jayson Tatum and Ajay Mitchell stealing the show.
The Celtics crushed the Hornets 119-80, with Tatum essentially needing only three quarters to get the job done. The Boston star had 34 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, while Derrick White added 18.
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Tatum came out firing, scoring 18 points in the first quarter alone, as the Celtics took a 40-20 lead. Boston went 17-for-31 from three-point range in the first half, built a 42-point lead, and improved to 2-0 in the NBA Cup, while also recording its seventh win in its last eight games.
Even more impressive was Ajay Mitchell, who had the best game of his career in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 128-97 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mitchell scored a career-high 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting, made four three-pointers, and dished out five assists. In fact, he already had 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the first half. It was the second 30-point game of his career, and both have come this season, as the Thunder improved their record to 7-2.
In Atlanta, the Hawks defeated the Wizards 139-132, securing their third consecutive victory. Nikiel Alexander-Walker led the scoring with 28 points, Lou Dort had 25, and Onyeka Okonwu had 22.
It was a special night for Trae Young, who returned to Atlanta as an opponent after leaving the Hawks. The Wizards’ guard had 23 points and 10 assists, but also committed eight turnovers.
The Hawks finished the game shooting 53% from the field and 16-for-38 from three-point range, while their 139 points marked their best offensive performance of the season.
In Toronto, the Raptors staged a major comeback and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 121-107, despite the significant absences of Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and Emmanuel Quickley.
The standout performer was Alijah Martin, who set a career high with 27 points, shooting an impressive 9-for-11 from the field and 6-for-7 from three-point range. R.J. Barrett added another 27, while Jamal Sid dished out a career-high 16 assists.
The Raptors trailed by as many as 15 points but blew past the Bucks in the second half with a 70-47 run. For Milwaukee, which fell to 1-8 and is off to its worst start in more than three decades, Tyler Herro had 23 points and 10 assists.
The Dallas Mavericks, for their part, defeated the Utah Jazz 112-100. P.J. Washington scored a season-high 26 points, while Cooper Flagg had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Kyrie Irving scored just two points in the first half, but stepped up his performance after halftime and finished with 14. Flagg and Irving combined for 21 of the 22 points in a decisive 22-10 run in the third quarter, as Dallas pulled away and never relinquished control.
*photo source: AP
