By wrapping up their first-round series against the Miami Heat in five games, the Boston Celtics bought themselves some significant time off. Meanwhile their two potential opponents ended up in a seven-game slugfest.
That series came to an end on Sunday, as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 106-94. The Cavs trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half, but outscored the Magic 33-15 in the third quarter to setup the comeback win. The home team won each of the seven games in that series.
The Celtics will now get the Cavs on a quick turnaround to start this series. Game 1 is on Tuesday at TD Garden at 7:00 p.m. ET. Coverage for that game begins at 6:30 on the BetMGM 98.5 The Sports Hub Celtics Radio Network.
So far the first four games of the series have been fully scheduled. Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 will/would be in Boston while Games 3, 4, and 6 will/would be on the road. All Celtics playoff games can be heard on the BetMGM 98.5 The Sports Hub Celtics Radio Network, with pregame coverage beginning half an hour before the scheduled tip-off.
Celtics-Cavaliers Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule (so far):
Game 1: Tuesday, May 7 at 7 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, May 11 at 8:30 p.m.
Game 4: Monday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Game 5: Wednesday, May 15 at TBD*
Game 6: Friday, May 17 at TBD*
Game 7: Sunday, May 19 at TBD*
*If necessary
During the regular season this year, the Celtics played the Cavaliers three times. The Celtics won the first-two matchups, which came on Dec. 12 (120-113) and 14 (116-107) in Boston. Then on March 5 the teams met again in Cleveland. The Cavs won that one 105-104, erasing a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to snap what was an 11-game winning streak for the C’s.
Reigning All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell leads the way for the Cavs. He averaged 26.6 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting in the regular season this year, then averaged 28.7 per game in the first round including 39 points in the closeout Game 7.
Darius Garland is the Cavs’ other big scorer. He averaged 18 points per game in the regular season, then 14.8 in the first-round series.
Cleveland’s front court stars center Jarrett Allen, who averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in the regular season. The 6-foot-9, 243-pound center started the playoffs averaging 17 points and 13.8 rebounds per game through four games, but he missed the final three games of that series while dealing with a rib injury.
This series will be the first playoff matchup between the Celtics and Cavaliers in six years. Here’s a look at their recent history of the series…
2018 Eastern Conference Finals
BOSTON, MA – MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the second half during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Cavaliers, then led by LeBron James and Kevin Love, came in as the fourth seed and won that series in seven games over a young, second-seed Celtics team starring 21-year-old Jaylen Brown and 19-year-old Jayson Tatum. Cleveland won that series despite the Celtics getting out to a 2-0 lead.
2017 Eastern Conference Finals
BOSTON, MA – MAY 19: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Derrick Williams in the second half during Game Two of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 19, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
The Cavaliers also beat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals in the year before. That was a five-game series that saw the second-seed Cavs knock off the top-seed Celtics. Kyrie Irving was still on the Cavaliers at that point, while Isaiah Thomas was in his final year as a Celtic. He only played two games in that series.
2015 First Round
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 23: Jared Sullinger #7 of the Boston Celtics makes a pass around Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 23, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts.The Cavaliers defeat the Celtics 103-95. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Coming into this series the Cavaliers were riding high after getting LeBron James back in free agency that offseason and earning the top seed in the East. Meanwhile the Celtics snuck into the playoffs with a sub-.500 record, two years removed from trading away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The result? A Cavs sweep.
2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals
BOSTON – MAY 07: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against the defense of Paul Pierce #34 and Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 7, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
The Celtics ran into the Cavs on their way to the 2010 NBA Finals. It took the Celtics six games to eliminate Cleveland, marking the end of LeBron James’ first stint with the Cavaliers. This is the Celtics’ most recent playoff series win against the Cavaliers.
2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals
BOSTON – MAY 18: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics looks to move the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at the TD Banknorth Garden May 18, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics won 97-92. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Last time the Celtics won a title, it included a series win against the Cavaliers against the 2008 Eastern Conference Semis. That was the Celtics’ Big Three against a then-rising superstar LeBron James, and included an instant classic duel between James and Paul Pierce that led to a 97-92 Celtics win.
