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,

Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers claimed a 115-111 victory over a short-handed Celtics team that was without Jaylen Brown and Derrick White on Sunday, maintaining their spot at the top of the Eastern Conference. Here are the takeaways.

CLEVELAND — The moment arrived in the third quarter and Donovan Mitchell seized it. After Jayson Tatum hit a 3-pointer over him, Mitchell sensed the Celtics’ momentum and confidence building. He could feel the energy draining from Cleveland’s hyped ...

Donovan Mitchell stars as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics 115-111 while LeBron James leads the Los Angeles Lakers to victory.

Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder guards DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center

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