The Boston Celtics have their subsequent opponent: the Cleveland Cavaliers. After an exciting seven-game sequence in opposition to the Orlando Magic the place the house crew gained each sport, the Cavs will journey to Boston on Tuesday to start the second spherical.
Boston is aware of the Cavaliers effectively after going through them 3 times within the common season, successful each dwelling video games however dropping the final matchup at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
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The primary sport was on December 12, when the Cavs got here to Boston for a two-game mini-series which began with a 120-113 defeat.
Boston was led by their Large 3, combining for 71 factors (Jayson Tatum: 25, Jaylen Brown: 25, Kristaps Porzingis: 21). However Boston trailed for a lot of the first half because the Cavs obtained out to a 15-2 begin. The Celtics offense struggled earlier as Brown scored 10 of the crew’s first 12 factors with the opposite two factors coming from Porzingis free throws.
Regardless of the new capturing from Cleveland, Boston solely trailed by one at halftime (60-59) after an offensive surge led by Tatum, Brown, and Payton Pritchard.
Each groups couldn’t miss within the second half. It was an offensive masterclass from either side, at a time when Boston’s protection was touted as the most effective within the league.
Late within the fourth quarter, a Tatum pull-up three gave the Celtics a seven-point lead which grew to 10 with round two minutes left after a Derrick White nook three all however sealed the sport.
The Cavs have been led by Donovan Mitchell who scored 29 factors. Mitchell was on fireplace to start out the sport and had 27 factors coming into the fourth quarter, however the Celtics protection ultimately discovered its groove and put a halt to his scoring.
Lower than 48 hours later, the Celtics and Cavs have been again on the parquet for its second assembly of the season. Identical to within the first sport, the Cavs have been with out their terrific shot-blocker, Evan Mobley.
Boston got here out of the gates robust with Tatum having his help hat on, discovering quite a few teammates early and sometimes because the C’s obtained out to a stronger begin than they did final day trip.
Mitchell, once more, was on fireplace out of the blocks main all scorers after the primary quarter with 12 factors. Nonetheless, it was the Celtics who boasted a nine-point lead going into the second quarter.
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Boston elevated its result in 11 (65-54) at halftime because of capturing over 47% from deep within the half. Mitchell continued to tempo the Cavs with 21 factors, whereas Brown (18 factors) and Porzingis (15) carried Boston’s offense.
The Cavs offense stayed within the sport because of Caris LeVert scoring 15 of his 26 factors within the third quarter. Darius Garland would hit a 3 to shut the third quarter and lower Boston’s result in three (90-87) to start out the fourth quarter.
The Celtics obtained their lead again to double digits twice within the fourth quarter, however the Cavs remained persistent and stored clawing their approach again into the sport. Once more, with below two minutes to go, the Celtics identical to they did in its first matchup, locked in on protection, getting a number of stops down the stretch. Not solely did Boston get the stops they wanted, nevertheless it was Tatum who made them pay on the opposite finish making well timed baskets to place the sport away 116-107, to make it 2-0 in opposition to the Cavs.
Sadly for the Celtics, the Cavs grabbed the ultimate common season showdown again in Cleveland on March 5. The D-Wade Present — not that D-Wade, however Dean Wade.
Earlier than we get to Wade going supernova, it’s vital to notice coming into this sport Boston had gained 11 straight video games and have been firing on all cylinders.
Though Boston solely shot 42% within the first half, they held a 55-45 lead. The Cavs fought again within the third quarter, nevertheless it was Boston who added to its result in maintain a 16-point benefit (87-71) coming into the fourth quarter.
The Celtics led 91-71 with 9:14 left within the sport.
Enter Dean Wade.
Wade went nuclear within the fourth quarter scoring 20 of his 23 factors within the fourth quarter to gasoline a ferocious comeback.
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Picture by Jason Miller/Getty Pictures
A Georges Niang three tied the sport at 99 with below 4 minutes to go. Then one other three from Wade gave Cleveland the lead and capped off a 23-4 run.
After a Porzingis and-1, the Celtics led by one with lower than 40 seconds to play.
Wade discovered a wide-open lane for a putback dunk with 19 seconds left within the sport to retake the lead 105-104.
With Garland on him, Tatum went for a fadeaway jumper for the potential game-winner. Tatum missed the shot however the referee known as a foul on Garland to offer the Celtics an opportunity to win it on the line with 0.7 seconds left.
Sadly for Boston, the play was reviewed and overturned and the Cavs went on to win.
Fortunately for Boston, getting previous the Warmth in 5 video games allowed additional relaxation whereas the Magic and Cavs exchanged haymakers for seven video games.
