Day 3 of the NBA Cup delivered excitement and drama, featuring marquee matchups and standout performances. From the Celtics and Cavs’ intense battle to the Nets’ thrilling comeback against the Hornets and the Lakers extending their dominance, each game showcased the tournament’s growing stakes. Here’s a recap of the action-packed night.
Cavs vs. Celtics
Coming into Day 3 of the NBA Cup, the matchup between the Cavaliers and Celtics was the most anticipated game yet. The Cavaliers, boasting one of the best records in the league, faced off against the reigning NBA champions, the Celtics, in a battle of team success versus raw talent. After losing their first NBA Cup game to the Hawks, the Celtics were looking to bounce back, while Cleveland aimed to start the tournament 2-0. The game delivered on the hype, with both teams trading runs before the Celtics pulled off a hard-fought win, 120-117, on their bright green home court in Boston.
Celtics
The Celtics were led by a standout performance from Jayson Tatum, who posted an impressive stat line of 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. While Tatum shone, this victory was truly a team effort. Six Celtics players scored in double figures, each contributing multiple three-pointers. In the first half, Boston dominated from beyond the arc, shooting an astounding 14-of-22 from three-point range, which, coupled with strong defense, gave them a comfortable lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, their shooting cooled, and a 21-point lead shrank to five by the end of the third quarter. However, Al Horford emerged as an unexpected hero, providing timely defensive stops and hitting 4-of-5 from three-point range. The Celtics’ defensive versatility proved crucial in the fourth quarter. When the game tightened, Boston attacked Cleveland’s weakest defender, Darius Garland, and capitalized on defensive rotations to find open shooters. The Celtics improved to 1-1 in NBA Cup play.
Cavaliers
The Cavaliers entered this game with the second-best start in NBA history, trailing only the 2016 Warriors. Despite a strong showing, they were missing key contributors: Caris LeVert (knee), Dean Wade (ankle), Max Strus (ankle), and Isaac Okoro (ankle). Each of these players could have added valuable dimensions to Cleveland’s game—LeVert’s isolation scoring, Wade and Strus’ floor-spacing, and Okoro’s defense on Tatum.
Even shorthanded, Cleveland showed resilience. Evan Mobley (22 points, 11 rebounds) and Donovan Mitchell (35 points) kept the Cavaliers competitive. Garland struggled against Boston’s size on defense and couldn’t contain their wings late in the game. Despite cutting a 21-point deficit to just two on five separate occasions, the Celtics proved too strong in crunch time. Cleveland fell to 1-1 in the NBA Cup.
Nets vs. Hornets
This under-the-radar matchup turned into a thrilling fourth-quarter battle. The Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets, two young and promising teams, surprised many early this season by securing quality wins. Both teams entered the night 0-1 in the tournament, with the loser facing elimination from contention.
Hornets
The Hornets, quietly one of the league’s most entertaining teams, are led by LaMelo Ball and rising star Brandon Miller. Complementing them is a strong supporting cast, including Miles Bridges, Tre Mann, and Moussa Diabaté, one of the league’s best rebounders. Charlotte started hot, building a 17-point lead in the first half. Miller impressed with 29 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.
However, mistakes began to creep in, allowing Brooklyn to claw back into the game. Tre Mann provided a spark with a thunderous dunk in the third quarter, finishing with 19 points and 6 rebounds. The fourth quarter took a bizarre turn as LaMelo was benched just three minutes in, despite being one of the league’s top clutch performers. Ball returned later but finished shooting 3-of-13. The Hornets had a chance to force overtime but missed. Despite shooting an impressive 54% from three (20-of-37), Charlotte dropped to 0-2 in the NBA Cup.
Nets
The Brooklyn Nets continue to defy expectations in this young season. Projected to be among the league’s worst, they’ve shown consistent competitiveness. Even without key players—Cam Thomas (back), Nic Claxton (back), and Day’Ron Sharpe (hamstring)—the Nets rallied. Lacking size, their tallest active players were 6’10” Noah Clowney and Ben Simmons, both of whom played limited minutes.
Brooklyn overcame a significant early deficit with a 30-13 run that spanned the second and third quarters. Cam Johnson (34 points) and Dennis Schröder (14 points, 12 assists) led the charge, but it was Trenton Watford’s unexpected heroics down the stretch that secured the win. The Nets improved to 1-1 in the NBA Cup.
Lakers vs. Jazz
The Lakers looked to continue their NBA Cup dominance against the rebuilding Utah Jazz. Both teams entered their second tournament game with vastly different expectations: the Lakers as championship contenders and the Jazz as a team still identifying their core for the future. Los Angeles emerged victorious, 124-118.
Lakers
The Lakers extended their NBA Cup record to 9-0, maintaining their undefeated streak in tournament history. Rookie Dalton Knecht was the star of the night, scoring 37 points on 12-of-16 shooting, including 9-of-12 from three. Knecht’s red-hot shooting helped the Lakers build a 25-point lead early in the fourth quarter. The Jazz mounted a comeback when his streak cooled, cutting the lead to two possessions.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis closed the game, combining for 52 points, 26 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Lakers relied on their trademark strengths: rebounding and free-throw shooting, with 40.7% of their fourth-quarter points coming from the line. While their 55% shooting night was impressive, the Lakers need better bench production; starters accounted for 88.7% of their points. Los Angeles improved to 2-0 in this year’s NBA Cup.
Jazz
The Jazz remain in rebuild mode but showed fight despite falling to 0-2 in the NBA Cup. Lauri Markkanen, who scored 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, continues to be a focal point, even as trade rumors linger in the offseason. Four other double-digit scorers supported him, while rookie Isaiah Collier impressed with his point-of-attack defense.
Utah battled back from an early deficit, responding to Knecht’s shooting display with a 43-point fourth quarter—however, their inability to secure key rebounds or avoid fouling late cost them. The Jazz are now virtually eliminated from NBA Cup contention but can take positives from their competitive spirit.
Fastbreak
Nuggets vs. Grizzlies:
Both teams have been hit hard by bad injury luck this season. Russell Westbrook became the first player in NBA history to achieve 200 triple-doubles. The Nuggets picked up the win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Thunder vs. Spurs:
No Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama matchup cast a shadow over what could have been a potentially intriguing game. The Spurs secured the win thanks to a strong performance from Chris Paul, who posted 14 points and 11 assists.
Mavericks vs. Pelicans:
This game was over by halftime as the Mavericks built a 20-point lead. Luka Dončić is still working to regain his efficiency, but the dynamic backcourt of Dončić and Kyrie Irving contributed 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, along with 8 points and 7 assists, respectively, as the Mavericks crushed the Pelicans.
Make sure to visit Belly Up Sports for more sports content and entertainment.
Featured Image: Getty Images
