Within the midst of an in any other case robust begin to the postseason for the Boston Celtics, Sport 2 is changing into one thing of a sore spot. After shedding Sport 2 in opposition to the Miami Warmth within the first spherical, the Celtics once more struggled in Sport 2 of the semifinals in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After preventing to a draw within the first half, the Celtics gave up an enormous third quarter to Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers, who managed to even up the sequence at one recreation apiece, 118-94.
Jayson Tatum’s taking pictures woes haven’t absolutely resolved themselves but, however he nonetheless led the Celtics in scoring on the night with 25 factors (7-of-17 taking pictures). Jaylen Brown adopted up his 33-point outing in Sport 1 with a extra subdued 19 (7-of-17), and Payton Pritchard tacked on 13 factors and 4 assists off the bench, however the Celtics typically couldn’t muster a lot consistency on both finish of the ground.
For the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley loved the very best recreation of his younger NBA Postseason profession, scoring 21 factors, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing 5 assists and recording three shares. Mitchell struggled within the first half, however rode an electrical third quarter to a 29-point night time. Darius Garland added 14 factors, and Caris LeVert had a robust night time off the bench with 21.
Behind a robust begin from Mobley, who opened the sport with 11 factors and a uncommon three-pointer, the Cavaliers caught the Celtics on their heels within the first quarter. Cleveland was environment friendly with their touches contained in the arc, taking pictures 11-of-16 from two-point vary and making the most of a sluggish Boston offense that shot simply 36% from the sector. Tatum led the Celtics in scoring within the opening quarter with eight, however did most of his injury from the free throw line, making only one discipline objective. The Celtics trailed Cleveland 30-24 getting into the second quarter.
The Celtics corrected the momentum early within the second quarter, kicking off the return to play with a fast 6-0 run within the first two minutes, which they rapidly prolonged so far as 16-3 to regain management of the lead. The surge put the Celtics again accountable for the proceedings, however it didn’t maintain lengthy sufficient to increase their benefit extra considerably. They led by two-to-three possessions for a lot of the quarter, however heady play by Mobley (15 first half factors) and Caris LeVert (12) saved the Cavs alive. The Celtics matched Cleveland’s 30-24 first quarter with a 30-24 second of their very own, and the 2 groups entered the halftime break tied at 54 apiece.
The scales tilted again in the direction of Cleveland because the second half started, with the Cavs rattling off a modest 8-3 run to open the third quarter. Tatum and Brown briefly stifled a number of the momentum with consecutive and-one layups, however the Cavs continued to churn ahead. Mitchell started to lastly make his mark on the sport, connecting on a three-pointer, and a visibly hampered Darius Garland made an impression as a facilitator, discovering Isaac Okoro for a layup on the halfway level of the quarter to place the Celtics down 9 and immediate a Joe Mazzulla timeout.
Boston snapped the Cavaliers’ 10-2 run with a visit to the free throw line from Luke Kornet, however Kornet hit simply one in every of his two makes an attempt earlier than Garland responded with a three-pointer handy the Celtics a double-digit deficit. Kornet drew one other foul on Mobley on the following possession, kicking the red-hot heart to the bench with 4 fouls for the night time. Regardless of forcing Cleveland’s greatest participant for the night to the bench, although, the Celtics weren’t capable of make up floor. The Cavs pushed their lead so far as 14 factors and loved a 90-78 lead getting into the ultimate quarter.
Having scored 16 factors within the third quarter, Mitchell went again to work within the fourth and related on an early three-pointer. The shot was a fast indicator of how the fourth quarter was about to proceed for the Celtics; they merely couldn’t string collectively stops, and the Cleveland lead continued to swell. The Cavs pushed forward by 20 factors with simply over six minute remaining in regulation. Joe Mazzulla emptied the bench shortly thereafter, and the Celtics by no means meaningfully challenged once more.
Subsequent up, the Japanese Convention Semifinals will hit the highway, shifting to Cleveland for Sport 3 on Saturday at 8:30 PM EST on TNT.
