Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-111 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
The Cavaliers were trailing by 14 points late in the third quarter and seemed headed for a third straight loss. However, they slowly closed the gap in the final period, setting up Mitchell’s late-game performance.
Mitchell began his hot streak with a step-back 3-pointer, then answered a layup from Jrue Holiday with another three-pointer, bringing Cleveland within one point at 99-98 with 2:14 left. After Payton Pritchard’s drive put Boston ahead by three, Mitchell hit another 3-pointer to tie the game at 101.
Following a missed shot by Jayson Tatum, Mitchell made a floater to give the Cavaliers a 103-101 lead with 1:07 remaining. The Cavaliers took advantage of another missed shot by Tatum, quickly passing the ball around until Isaac Okoro drove to find Evan Mobley for a dunk.
The teams exchanged free throws in the final moments, leaving Boston with one last chance. Pritchard made the first free throw to cut Cleveland’s lead to 113-111, but when he missed his second free throw intentionally, he grabbed the rebound, only for the officials to rule that the ball didn’t touch the rim.
Mitchell sealed the win with two more free throws, ending Boston’s seven-game winning streak.
Mitchell finished 11-of-21 from the field and 6-of-11 from 3-point range, adding seven rebounds. Darius Garland contributed 22 points and eight assists. The Cavaliers also received 13 points from both Caris LeVert and Georges Niang, with Niang going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, helping the team to a 17-of-36 shooting performance from three.
Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points, and Pritchard scored 24 off the bench. Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points and eight rebounds in his third game back after a foot injury sustained during last season’s NBA Finals. Boston played without Jaylen Brown (illness) and Derrick White (foot).
Garland helped the Cavaliers take a 51-49 lead at halftime. Tatum, who had scored 12 points in the first half, scored 17 points in the third quarter, and the Celtics led 84-72 going into the final period.
