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The Cleveland Cavaliers, after outlasting the Orlando Magic in a seesaw seven-game series, are taking on the Boston Celtics in the next round. Cleveland gave everything they got and then some to eventually send the inexperienced but ultra-talented and gritty Magic on vacation.
In the semifinals, the Cavaliers will be facing a team that is battle-scarred in the playoffs and with perhaps the deadliest offense in the NBA.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics game player stats and box scores
Cleveland Cavaliers game player stats and box scores
Boston Celtics game player stats and box scores
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics game summary
Derrick White started hot for the Boston Celtics, scoring 11 of his team's first 13 points. The Cleveland Cavaliers, however, were unfazed and battled to even take the lead halfway through the first quarter before Boston took a 40-34 lead.
The offensive rhythm in the first 12 minutes evaporated in the second period as neither team went over 20 points. Donovan Mitchell's hot hand in the first round continued as he already had 17 points in the first half. Jaylen Brown did better and dropped 20 as the Celtics had a 59-49 advantage after the first 24 minutes ended.
The Celtics and Cavaliers had more flow on offense in the third quarter. Cleveland, which didn't want to be overwhelmed on the offensive end, kept itself in striking distance. "Spida" has been the story for the Cavaliers and no one else.
The Celtics rode the third period behind a balanced attack led by Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Jayson Tatum's rough-shooting night continued but the Cavaliers aren't giving him an inch of daylight. Tatum has been having an impact with his aggressiveness alone and in making the right plays. Boston carried a 92-77 lead with a quarter left to play.
When Donovan Mitchell sat out to start the first three minutes of the final quarter, the Cavaliers looked lost. The Celtics took advantage of his absence and piled on their visitors to increase their lead to 20 points. When "Spida" returned, all momentum was with the hosts and he couldn't help mount a rally.
With roughly four minutes left in the game, Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff waved by white flag by taking out Mitchell. Joe Mazzulla responded by giving a handful of the Boston Celtics' second-stringers some minutes to close the game. The Celtics finished off the Cavaliers behind Payton Pritchard and the bench mob to win, 120-95.
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's 3-pointers in the first half
Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland combined to make just 2-for-10 3-pointers in the first half.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown weren't as aggressive, hitting just 2-for-6 from deep during the same stretch.
Mitchell eventually sat down for good with four minutes left in the game after making 4-for-11 from behind the arc. Garland came up with a 2-for-8 line from the same distance.
Tatum misfired on all of his five tries from rainbow range but Brown took the cudgels, making 4-of-6.
