The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics 115-111 in a nail-biting thriller. This game was for sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, and Cleveland took control. Donovan Mitchell could not miss in the fourth quarter, pouring in 35 points. Jayson Tatum scored 33 for the Celtics, but it was not enough. The Celtics were shorthanded, missing two key starters. Jaylen Brown was out with an illness, while Derrick White was out with a right foot sprain. The Cavaliers also missed Dean Wade, who had an ankle injury.
Cleveland Cavaliers Lead Early
Sam Hauser made his first appearance in the Boston Celtics starting lineup this season, but the story early on was Cleveland’s aggression. The Cavaliers got out to an 8-0 lead, clearly still vengeful from their last meeting when the Celtics ended their undefeated season. Boston did not take long to get back into the game, though, trimming the Cleveland lead off a few Kristaps Porzingis buckets. A Payton Pritchard three gave the Celtics the lead, and it was back and forth from there.
At the end of the first quarter, the Cleveland Cavaliers led by four, 28-24. Darius Garland led the Cavs with 6 first-quarter points, followed by Donovan Mitchell and Georges Niang, who each scored 5. Porzingis had 9 points for Boston, while Tatum scored 7. The Cavaliers built their lead in the second quarter, going up by double digits. The Celtics offense struggled when Tatum was on the bench, which has been a trend all season, especially with Brown and White out of the lineup. But, again, Boston battled back, going on a 10-2 run. Then, an Al Horford three put the Boston Celtics back in the lead.
It did not last, however, as Cleveland closed the half strong. At halftime, the Cavaliers led 51-49. Garland had the hot hand with 15 points, shooting 3-of-4 from three. Niang was effective off the bench with 11 points, going 3-of-3 from three. Tatum and Porzingis each had 12 points for the Celtics. The Cavaliers were playing well, taking advantage of switches and playing good defense like they have all season. The Boston Celtics had a few cold stretches but recovered to keep it close going into the half.
The Boston Celtics’ Strong Third Quarter
Mitchell and Tatum began to duel in the third quarter as both teams traded the lead. The two stars got tough buckets in the paint and on the perimeter, proving their worth as the top players in the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics pulled ahead on a 16-5 run, with their lead growing as large as 14. Their defense tightened up in the paint, allowing them to get fast breaks and open looks. Missing starters, players like Drew Peterson got playing time and made the most of their minutes with great hustle. Tatum scored 17 points in the third quarter, and Mitchell scored 10. The Boston Celtics won the quarter 35-21. Going into the fourth quarter, the Celtics led 84-72.
Donovan Mitchell Takes Over
In the fourth quarter, the Cleveland Cavaliers wasted no time cutting into the Celtics lead. Mitchell continued to drain shots no matter the defense or contest. From step-back shots with a hand in his face to acrobatic layups, Mitchell was willing the Cavaliers back into the game. Pritchard responded for Boston, getting a couple of buckets inside and hitting a signature deep three.
With five minutes to go, the Boston Celtics led 93-87. An Isaac Okoro three made it a one-possession game. Then a Jarrett Allen basket made it 95-92. The Cavaliers had momentum with the home crowd rocking, and another Mitchell three made them erupt.
Mitchell drilled another three to make it 99-98 with two minutes to go. A Pritchard bucket put Boston up three, but Mitchell immediately responded with another three to tie the game. He earned another one and a Mobley dunk put them up four to essentially end the game. Pritchard made it interesting, draining a three to make it a one-possession game. But the Cleveland Cavaliers never allowed Boston to get a final shot, fouling repeatedly in the final 25 seconds. This gave the Cleveland Cavaliers the 115-111 win.
Final Thoughts
Donovan Mitchell’s second-half explosion led the Cavaliers to victory with 35 points, 30 of them were in the second half. Darius Garland finished with 22. This win helps Cleveland improve to an 18-3 record, keeping them at the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Boston Celtics fell to 16-4 with the loss. Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, and Pritchard had 24 off the bench. Given how these two teams have played against each other and the rest of the NBA this season, it is fair to say that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have a new, budding rivalry. It should be a game to look out for whenever these teams meet.
