Celtics hang tough in 106-93 Game 3 win
The Boston Celtics avenged a jarring defeat to take Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, 106-93 over the Cleveland Cavaliers and take a 2-1 series lead.
Jayson Tatum led the turnaround from a listless 118-94 Game 2 loss by setting the tone on the road with a purposeful first quarter effort. The All-Star bulled his way to the basket to compile eight of Boston’s first 12 points, eventually finishing with a team-high 33 to go along with 13 rebounds and six assists. Jaylen Brown was an efficient 13-of-17 from the field for 28 points and nine rebounds, with Jrue Holiday busy on both ends of the floor, chipping in 18 points, eight boards and five dimes.
Donovan Mitchell remained aggressive for Cleveland, trying to keep pace with Tatum with 11 points in the opening stanza and 23 in the first half. He drained seven three-pointers and finished with 33 points for the game. Evan Mobley contributed 17 and eight rebounds for the Cavs, who largely failed to find their shooting rhythm thanks to Boston’s relentless defense.
While the Cavs hung around in the first half, the Celtics emerged from the locker room with their hair on fire to start the third, sinking their shots and smothering Cleveland’s on the defensive end en route to an 8-0 run and a 17-point advantage. After a timeout, the C’s buried consecutive three-pointers to balloon the lead 23. A 9-0 Cleveland response pinched that number back and the Cavs managed to get the deficit down to 12, but the Green answered some big Cavs baskets late in the quarter, with a Jaylen Brown triple pushing the lead to 84-69 after three.
Cleveland attacked the basket for six straight points to open the fourth and cut the lead to nine, but it would be as close as they would get. After a life preserver three from Payton Pritchard, both Tatum and Brown hit the big shots down the stretch to preserve the win.
The Celtics had a key stretch in the second quarter with Tatum on the pine, building a seven-point advantage on two Holiday buckets and a three for Sam Hauser. After a couple of downtown darts for Mitchell, the C’s defense helped reconstitute the lead at nine points by the time Tatum got back on the floor. The Green would briefly grab a double-digit advantage before heading to the locker room with a 57-48 halftime lead.
Dean Wade (right knee) played for the Cavs for the first time since early March and was a team-high +12 in his 17 minutes. Kristaps Porzingis and Jarrett Allen remained out for their respective squads.
Game 4 is Monday night in Cleveland. The action tips off at 7 p.m. on 98.5 The Sports Hub and throughout the BetMGM Celtics Radio Network.
Sean Sylver can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Talk hoops with him on X @TheSylverFox.