The absence of Donovan Mitchell weighed heavily on the Cleveland Cavaliers once more as they faced the Boston Celtics, sparking speculations that Mitchell might have played his final game in the „Wine & Gold” uniform. Despite early predictions favoring the Celtics, the game remained tightly contested throughout.
Evan Mobley and Marcus Morris spearheaded the Cavaliers’ efforts, ensuring a tie game after the first quarter (28:28). However, the Celtics, led by a relentless Morris, quickly gained momentum, establishing a six-point lead (40:46). Derrick White’s resurgence enabled the Cavaliers to level the score once more (48:48), but the Celtics finished the second quarter with a lead (58:52), with Jayson Tatum leading the charge.
The Cavaliers staged a comeback in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to just one point (58:57). Yet, the Celtics responded emphatically, with Al Horford and Tatum extending their lead to 12 points (69:57).
Despite a brief drought in three-pointers, the Celtics maintained their advantage, thwarting any attempts by the Cavaliers to mount a comeback. Evan Mobley’s efforts momentarily breathed life into the Cavaliers’ hopes (88:85), but a flurry of baskets from Jrue Holiday, White, Horford, and Tatum reasserted the Celtics’ dominance (101:87), effectively sealing the game.
Jayson Tatum’s stellar performance, just shy of a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals, showcased his prowess. Al Horford also shone with 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Derrick White contributed 18 points and Jaylen Brown added 11 points.
