Boston, MA – In a commanding display at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics secured their twelfth consecutive home victory by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-107 on Thursday night. Jayson Tatum led the charge with 27 points, supported by Jaylen Brown’s 22-point contribution.
This victory marked Boston’s sixth triumph in seven games, solidifying their position with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White showcased their skills, contributing 18, 15, and 14 points respectively. The Celtics’ cohesive teamwork was evident as all five starters scored in double figures.
Reflecting on the game, Jrue Holiday emphasized the team’s focus on attention to detail. “I think we were locked in, attention to detail,” he said. “This game we kind of controlled the game from beginning to end, withstood their punches, and were able to make plays down the stretch.”
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with an impressive 31 points, complemented by Caris LeVert’s 26 and Darius Garland’s 19. However, the Cavaliers suffered their third consecutive loss.
The Celtics, having faced the Cavaliers for the second time in a row, maintained control throughout the game. Despite a late surge from Cleveland, the Celtics closed the match decisively. Tatum’s fadeaway and a step-back 3-pointer initiated a crucial spurt, extending Boston’s lead to 101-91 with 8 1/2 minutes remaining.
Cleveland attempted a comeback, narrowing the margin to 107-102, but Boston responded with key plays. Jrue Holiday’s layup and Tatum’s dunk following a Cleveland turnover secured the victory.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Jaylen Brown acknowledged room for improvement. “I thought we could have played a lot better, to be honest,” Brown said. “We’ve got to do a better job of putting teams away.”
The third quarter saw the Cavaliers, trailing by double digits, finding a late spark. Darius Garland’s explosive plays, including a left-handed scoop and a timely 3-pointer, closed the gap to 90-87.
In contrast to Tuesday’s game, where the Celtics faced an early 15-point deficit, they showcased steady ball movement and efficient outside shooting. Brown’s right-corner 3-pointer extended Boston’s lead to 14 points midway through the second quarter.
Coach Joe Mazzulla highlighted the team’s growth and resilience over the past two games. “I’ve seen over the last two games our guys kind of staying at a certain level, really work to execute and play together,” Mazzulla said.
Boston’s first-half performance was impressive, shooting 56.1%, including 8 of 17 on 3-point attempts. Donovan Mitchell’s 21 first-half points kept the Cavaliers in contention, but their struggles beyond the arc hindered their progress.
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged the team’s need for greater assertiveness. “I don’t think that we came out as aggressive and assertive as we needed to,” Bickerstaff said. “I thought we did settle (for shots) a little early, but we did pick it up.”
After a flawless performance from the free-throw line in Tuesday’s win, Boston maintained their accuracy, going 17 of 20 from the foul line in this matchup. The Celtics now look ahead to building on their success and maintaining their dominance, both at home and in the Eastern Conference.
Reporter