Jaylen Brown racked up 32 points, while Derrick White nailed seven 3-pointers and contributed 25 points, leading the Boston Celtics to a convincing 120-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first game of their second-round playoff matchup on Tuesday.
Jayson Tatum chipped in with 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, aiding the Celtics in pulling away during the latter part of the game.
Despite the Cavaliers keeping up early on, their 3-point shooting was not as effective, going 11 of 42. In contrast, the Celtics capitalized on their outside shooting, making 18 of 46 attempts from beyond the arc.
This strong performance allowed Boston to establish a commanding 15-point lead going into the final quarter. They further solidified their advantage by starting the fourth period with a 10-2 run, extending their lead to 102-79.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 33 points and contributed six assists. His performance marked the sixth consecutive playoff series opener where he scored 30 or more points, placing him in elite company alongside basketball legends Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Wilt Chamberlain.
