Magic Mitchell keeps the Cavs undefeated, Embiid 'fighting' the media some more

Donovan Mitchell nailed a basket with less than one second remaining as the Cleveland Cavaliers snatched a 114-113 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks to preserve their unbeaten start to the season on Saturday.

The Bucks looked poised to claim only their second win of the season after a 41-point performance from Damian Lillard, who gave his side a 113-112 lead after draining a jumper with 10 seconds left on the clock.

But Mitchell expertly ran the final few seconds down before nervelessly sinking the final bucket to leave Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum in stunned silence.

There was still time for one last attempted buzzer-beater from Lillard, but the Bucks' star's effort bounced off the backboard to leave Cleveland sitting pretty with a perfect 7-0 record on top of the Eastern Conference.

Mitchell, who finished with 30 points, four assists and three rebounds, credited his game-winning shot to a possession-securing rebound by team-mate Isaac Okoro moments before.

"It's not about the shot - it's about Isaac Okoro's rebound," Mitchell said. "That's what it's all about. I did my job, Isaac did his job, we all did our jobs.

"That's a big win. They played their behinds off. As a group we just continue to fight and claw."

The all-round performance saw six Cavaliers players make double figures in a see-saw clash that included 19 lead changes.

Sam Merrill caught the eye with 17 points off the bench for Cleveland, raining in five three-pointers while Jarrett Allen had 15 points with 12 rebounds.

The Bucks were left pondering another uneven performance which has left them one place off the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 1-5 record.

Lillard, who scored just four points in a blowout defeat to Memphis on Thursday, bounced back in scintillating fashion, shooting 10-of-15 from outside the arc for the Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo also impressed in Milwaukee's losing effort, finishing with 34 points and 16 rebounds.

In other games Saturday, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the only other unbeaten team in the league after recovering from a 13-point first-half deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-92.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 25 points as the Thunder improved to 5-0 to remain in top spot in the Western Conference.

The Phoenix Suns remain in second place in the West on 5-1 after scoring a 103-97 defeat of the Portland Trail Blazers.

In Denver, the Nuggets improved to 3-3 for the season with a 129-103 blowout of the Utah Jazz, with Nikola Jokic just missing out on a triple double after finishing with 27 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.

The San Antonio Spurs improved to 3-3 with a 113-103 defeat of the Minnesota Timberwolves while the in-form Golden State Warriors moved to 5-1 with a 127-121 defeat of the Houston Rockets.

In Charlotte, Jayson Tatum's 29 points helped NBA champions Boston down the Hornets for a second straight night, the Celtics winning 113-103 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

Payton Pritchard again shone off the bench for Boston, delivering six three-pointers in a 22-point cameo. Luke Kornet added 19 points with Derrick White finishing with 18.

Tatum's performance in the face of stifling defensive pressure from Charlotte earned praise from Boston coach Joe Mazzulla.

"They doubled him and he made the right play every time," Mazzulla said of Tatum. "I think he played a great game.

"I thought he had tremendous poise throughout the game and understanding of how the defense was guarding him."

In Philadelphia, the 76ers' rocky start to the season continued in the absence of injured duo Joel Embiid and Paul George, with Memphis powering to a 123-107 win.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 27 points, with Ja Morant adding 18 points and 12 assists as Memphis improved to 4-3.

Apart from the action on the court in Philly, there was some ruckus off it, too, as Embiid is being investigated by the NBA after an alleged locker-room altercation with a journalist, multiple US media reports said Saturday.

Embiid is reported to have shoved a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer who recently wrote a commentary critical of the player which referenced the Sixers ace's son and late brother.

"We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation," an NBA spokesman was quoted by US media as saying.

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Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player who also played on the United States' gold medal-winning Olympic squad this year, has not played at all this season.

In his absence, the Sixers have slumped to a 1-4 start, with their latest defeat coming in a 124-107 drubbing at home by Memphis on Saturday.

ESPN reporter Shams Charania said following Saturday's loss Embiid had got into a "verbal back and forth" with the journalist who had written the critical column, Inquirer writer Marcus Hayes.

"Embiid took issue with a recent column that referenced his late brother and son, and Embiid shoved the columnist. No punch," Charania said.

In an opinion piece focusing on Embiid's injury problems, Hayes questioned the Sixers' star's commitment to "greatness."

"Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career," Hayes wrote.

"He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er.

"Well in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite."

NBA RESULTS

Philadelphia 76ers 107 - Memphis Grizzlies 124

Toronto Raptors 131 - Sacramento Kings 128 AOT

Houston Rockets 121 - Golden State Warriors 127 AOT

Milwaukee Bucks 113 - Cleveland Cavaliers 114

San Antonio Spurs 113 - Minnesota Timberwolves 103

Washington Wizards 98 - Miami Heat 118

Denver Nuggets 129 - Utah Jazz 103

Phoenix Suns 103 - Portland Trail Blazers 97

Los Angeles Clippers 92 - Oklahoma City Thunder 105

Charlotte Hornets 103 - Boston Celtics 113

© Agence France-Presse