NBA Recap: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics Secure Convincing Wins

Get the latest NBA scores and updates, featuring the Cavaliers' 30th win of the season and the Celtics' dominant performance against the Rockets.

The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their winning streak to 14 games with a 117-107 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 33 points, guiding the Thunder to their latest triumph.

In another notable performance, LeBron James continued to etch his name in the NBA record books. The 40-year-old superstar scored 30 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 119-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks, marking his 563rd 30-point game in the league. This achievement propelled James past Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history, further solidifying his status as one of the all-time greats.

Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama celebrated his 100th NBA game in style, contributing to his team's success on the night. Wembanyama's milestone game capped off an exciting evening of NBA action, which saw several teams and players make significant strides.

The Oklahoma City Thunder made history by matching their longest win streak in franchise history, dating back to the 1995-96 season when they were the Seattle SuperSonics. This achievement came at the expense of the New York Knicks, whose nine-game win streak was snapped. Notably, this matchup marked only the fourth time in the NBA's 79-year history that teams on winning streaks of nine or more games faced each other.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to victory, scoring 33 points, including 12-of-26 from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Jalen Williams contributed 20 points, while Aaron Wiggins added 19 off the bench. The Thunder's reserves played a crucial role, outscoring the Knicks bench 35-5. Gilgeous-Alexander praised his teammates, saying, “They made big plays all night. We're a roster of 15 men, 15 professionals, 15 really skilled basketball players. Guys were ready for their moment.”

The Knicks had a strong first half, closing the second quarter on a 23-10 run to take a 66-54 lead into halftime. Mikal Bridges was instrumental in this surge, scoring 19 of his team-high 24 points in the first half. However, the Thunder rallied in the second half to secure the win and extend their winning streak.

The Oklahoma City Thunder staged a remarkable comeback in the fourth quarter to defeat the New York Knicks 117-107. Trailing 88-80 at the end of the third quarter, the Thunder embarked on an 8-0 run, capped by an Isaiah Joe three-pointer, to take the lead 92-91 with 8:15 remaining.

The Thunder's momentum continued to build, as they went on a 10-0 run to establish a 108-101 lead with 2:22 left on the clock. Andrew Wiggins played a crucial role in this surge, hitting a three-point play and a three-pointer to help Oklahoma City pull away. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the team with 33 points, attributed the Thunder's comeback to their ability to stick to their identity. “Our (half-time) message was just to stick to our identity. We've gone down at half-time the past two or three games. We've been there before. We know it's a long game, a lot of things can change,” Gilgeous-Alexander explained. “We've just got to play to our identity as much as we can and when we do so, we usually win.”

Victor Wembanyama, the highly touted French basketball sensation, celebrated his 100th NBA game in style, playing a crucial role in the San Antonio Spurs' thrilling 113-110 victory over the Denver Nuggets. On the eve of his 21st birthday, Wembanyama made two clutch plays in the final seconds of the game, showcasing his exceptional skill and maturity.

In a captivating matchup between two of the league's premier big men, Wembanyama went head-to-head with three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic. The 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year impressed with 35 points and 18 rebounds, accompanied by four assists. Jokic, meanwhile, delivered an equally impressive performance, tallying 41 points and 18 rebounds, in addition to nine assists.

Wembanyama's remarkable rookie season was one for the record books, as he became the only player in NBA history to exceed 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocked shots, and 100 three-pointers in a single campaign. This season, “Wemby” is continuing to dominate, averaging 25.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.9 blocked shots per game, and 3.3 three-pointers per contest.

10 WINS IN A ROW FOR THE CAVS!

🏀 4th team in NBA history with 10 straight Ws by 10+ PTS
🏀 2nd time in franchise history with 2 10+ GM win streaks in 1 season (2008-09)

Their best play from each game in a DOMINANT streak. pic.twitter.com/gwBQaZXVVM

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2025

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominance, improving to 30-4 with a 134-122 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Evan Mobley led the charge, posting 34 points and 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers extended their winning streak to nine games. The Mavericks, meanwhile, struggled without star Luka Doncic, who was sidelined with a left calf strain, and suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

The Boston Celtics, reigning NBA champions, secured a convincing 109-86 win over the Houston Rockets. Derrick White top-scored with 23 points, while Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard contributed 20 points each. The Celtics improved to 26-9, while the Rockets, under the guidance of former Boston coach Ime Udoka, fell to 22-12. The Rockets also suffered a significant blow, losing forward Jabari Smith for 4-8 weeks due to a fractured left hand.

In a clash between two of the NBA's struggling teams, C.J. McCollum stole the show, scoring 50 points on 18-of-27 shooting to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 132-120 victory over the Washington Wizards. Elsewhere, Tristan da Silva scored a career-high 25 points to propel the Orlando Magic to a 106-97 win over the Toronto Raptors, while Tobias Harris scored 24 points to guide the Detroit Pistons to a 98-94 triumph over the visiting Charlotte Hornets.