The Cleveland Cavaliers finally won their first road game of the NBA playoffs on Thursday, surprising the Boston Celtics and the TD Garden crowd with a 118-94 victory in Game 2 of the second round of the Eastern Conference series. . The series is tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 in Cleveland on Saturday.
Initially, it seemed like the Cavs might win a playoff game even without Donovan Mitchell scoring the majority of the points. Mitchell, who had averaged 39 points in Cleveland’s previous three playoff games, had just six points at halftime. However, he took over in the second half and scored 16 points in the third quarter, scoring 29 points in the game.
Cleveland took control in the second half and defeated the Celtics 64-40. With about five minutes left in the game, Boston head coach Joe Mazzula gave up a goal and left most of his bench on the court as the home fans headed for the exits.
Cavaliers quickly erased slow start
The Cavs trailed by nine points in the first quarter, but rallied with an 11-0 run with Evan Mobley’s 11 points, assisted by Caris LeVert’s six points off the bench. Cleveland led 30-24 at the end of the quarter, quieting the Boston crowd.
Boston fought back in the second quarter as Mobley and LeVert cooled down and Mitchell and Darius Garland weren’t shooting. Jayson Tatum led all scorers in the first half with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, although he was 3-of-10 from the field. Al Horford’s 11 points (4-of-5 3-pointers) helped the Celtics lead 19-3, and the score was tied at 54 at halftime.
Mobley’s scoring slowed due to foul trouble, but he still recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. While Mitchell and Garland warmed up, LeVert provided support, adding 21 points and six rebounds. Garland scored 14 points, and Isaac Okoro and Max Strus each added 12 points.
Tatum totaled 25 points for the Celtics, but was 7-of-17 from the field. No one else in Boston’s lineup shot the ball better. Derrick White scored 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-8 shooting. Jaylen Brown scored 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting.
The Cavs’ threes are finally starting to fall.
Outside shooting was an issue for the Cavaliers during the playoffs, but in Game 3 he made a successful 3-point shot. Cleveland shot 46 percent (13-of-28) from behind the arc, led by Mitchell on 5-of-7. Garland had a 4-for-5 performance. Strus added two more 3-pointers, with Mobley and Okoro each hitting one.
Meanwhile, the Celtics struggled with shooting. Boston shot 22.9 percent on 3-point attempts, making 8 of 35. White went 1-for-8, Brown went 0-for-6, and Jrue Holiday continued to struggle in the postseason, going 0-for-2.
Jarrett Allen missed the Cavs’ fifth straight playoff game with a right rib contusion, while Kristaps Porzisis missed the Celtics’ past two games with a calf injury.
Game 3 of the Celtics-Cavaliers series is scheduled for Saturday in Cleveland. Tipoff will air on ABC at 8:30pm ET.
