Within the last seconds of the third quarter Tuesday night time, Payton Pritchard corralled a rebound, zigzagged previous the brand and launched deep, contested 3-pointer.
Because the ball fell by way of the online, everybody’s palms at TD Backyard shot up in unison. On an evening the place the Celtics managed the tempo all through however couldn’t draw back initially, Pritchard’s hoist proved to be the dagger.
The Celtics took a commanding 15-point edge into the fourth, prolonged it to 22 a couple of minutes in and cemented a 120-95 victory over the Cavaliers in Recreation 1. Jaylen Brown led the way in which with 32 and Derrick White added 25, however it was a balanced efficiency.
The Celtics ensured Cleveland’s momentum from Recreation 7 towards Orlando – and Boston’s six days with no recreation, for that matter – wasn’t an element. Boston, with Paul Pierce, Mike Gorman and different celebrities in the home, systematically wore the Cavaliers down and ultimately overpowered them within the second half.
Brown got here out with an aggressive mind-set, utilizing the upfake to his benefit and burning the Cavaliers from inside and outside. He scored 9 factors early, serving to the Celtics constructed a 12-2 edge within the opening minutes.
Donovan Mitchell (33 factors) and the Cavaliers stormed again, utilizing a 21-9 flurry to drag forward, 23-21. The Celtics’ defensive depth wasn’t the place it wanted to be halfway by way of the quarter. Enter Luke Kornet.
Kornet used his size to change photographs on the rim on one finish and thrived as a screen-setter and space-filler on the opposite. The Cavaliers positioned a lot consideration on Jayson Tatum (18 factors) and Brown (for good cause) that Kornet was typically the beneficiary beneath the rim.
He helped the Celtics flip a 25-25 tie right into a 40-34 lead by way of one. Brown completed the quarter with 15 factors – his solely miss approaching a half-court heave on the buzzer. The Celtics shot 54.2 p.c, moved the ball nicely and constantly generated high-quality appears. The one drawback for Boston was that Cleveland shot 50 p.c from 3-point vary and seemed far too comfy at instances.
Each groups ratcheted up the defensive depth in a sleepy and considerably sluggish second quarter, because the tempo shifted and both sides chucked up a string of misses.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla turned to a double-big lineup of Al Horford and Xavier Tillman Sr. Tillman, who logged simply seven whole minutes within the Warmth collection, flummoxed the Cavaliers within the paint.
Neither facet discovered a lot a of a rhythm, however Tatum continued to do a little bit of every part even along with his shot not falling. Boston constructed a 59-49 halftime edge, but Cleveland hung round partly due to the Celtics’ poor 3-point taking pictures (27.3 p.c).
Each groups regained their rhythm early within the third, with Brown persevering with to cook dinner and Jrue Vacation and Derrick White discovering a groove as nicely. Vacation and Brown secured back-to-back hustle offensive rebounds, resulting in one of many loudest roars of the night time from the Backyard devoted.
Brown then swatted a Mitchell layup and located a wide-open Vacation beneath the basket for 2 to push it to 80-64. White couldn’t miss within the third, pouring in 14 factors and eliciting a “Derrick White! Derrick White! Derrick White!” chant.
Manufacturing got here from throughout, and it got here on the proper moments.
Then got here Pritchard’s electrifying 3 on the buzzer that the Celtics a 92-77 edge by way of three. It seemed good off his palms and was a no-doubter.
Vacation and Tatum saved it rolling from there. Mazzulla saved his starters on the market for a lot of the fourth, simply to be protected, however the final result had been determined way back.
One down, three to go for the Celtics. Recreation 2 is Thursday night time in Boston.
