The Boston Celtics regained their form in Game 3 with their trademark green uniforms, clutch shots, and championship-like intensity.
Led by Jayson Tatum’s 33 points and Jaylen Brown’s 28, the Celtics bounced back from a disappointing loss at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, securing a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
After a lackluster showing in Game 2, where they suffered a 24-point defeat, the Celtics knew they had to step up their game in Cleveland.
“We don’t come to Cleveland for the weather, so let’s go,” said Brown, emphasizing the importance of playing solid defense. Despite being favored to win by a large margin, the Celtics focused on keeping the Cavs under 100 points.
This game was a test for the Celtics, reminiscent of their first-round series against Miami, where they lost Game 2 but bounced back to win three consecutive games.
Tatum highlighted the team’s purposeful play and improved communication, contributing not just with scoring but also with 13 rebounds and six assists.
The Celtics dominated the second half, starting with a 14-0 run that gave them a commanding 23-point lead, too much for the Cavs to overcome, especially after their memorable comeback win against Boston earlier in the season.
“We thought attacking them aggressively from the start was the best approach,” said Jrue Holiday, who scored 18 points, with 15 coming in the first half. “J.B. (Brown) reminded us it wasn’t over, and we knew that. We’ve had leads here before and they’ve come back to win.”
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 33 points, but his game was hampered by a left knee injury in the fourth quarter. With Boston comfortably ahead by 13 points, Mitchell left the court with just over a minute left, heading straight to the locker room.
Mitchell didn’t discuss his injury afterward but expressed disappointment with Cleveland’s slow start after halftime. “It shifted the momentum,” he said. “Credit to them, they came out strong. It’s hard to recover from that when a team starts with such determination.”
Despite Cleveland narrowing the gap to nine points three times in the fourth quarter, the Celtics managed to stall their comeback with consecutive 3-pointers from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, after struggling from beyond the arc in Game 2.
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night in Cleveland. “We need everyone to be fully committed and give their best effort,” Brown emphasized. “If we do that, the results will take care of themselves because we have more than enough talent in this locker room.”
Trailing by 23 points and struggling to contain Tatum, the Cavs fought their way back into the game. They reduced Boston’s lead to 15 by the end of the third quarter and scored the first six points in the fourth, igniting their enthusiastic home crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
However, whenever the Celtics needed crucial points, they relied on Tatum or Brown, who penetrated Cleveland’s defense for layups or made difficult contested shots.
“When they start scoring, that’s their strength,” Mitchell commented. “We battled and tried to come back, but that slow start in the third quarter hurt us.”
Evan Mobley contributed 17 points, while Darius Garland and Caris LeVert each scored 15 for the Cavs, who suffered their first home defeat in the playoffs.
Cleveland was once again missing starting center Jarrett Allen, who sat out his sixth consecutive game due to a rib injury sustained in the opening-round series against Orlando. There’s uncertainty about when or if Allen will return to action.
Mitchell led the Cavs with 23 points in the first half, making six 3-pointers, but the team didn’t receive enough production from other starters or the bench as the Celtics took a 57-48 halftime lead.
Following a surprising defeat at home in Game 2 despite being favored to win, coach Joe Mazzulla kept it straightforward with his team for Game 3.
“Just focus on your strengths and improve them,” he advised. The Celtics struggled initially, missing their first two 3-point attempts. However, their confidence grew with some good early shots, and they managed to sink 5 3-pointers in the first quarter, taking a 30-28 lead.
Once the game started, the disappointment of Game 2 faded away, and Jayson Tatum was confident that all the Celtics players would step up.
“I’ve scored 33 points many times before,” he remarked. “What matters most is the composure we showed. And we did it in an exciting environment that we enjoyed being part of.”
Cleveland received a boost with forward Dean Wade making his first postseason appearance after being sidelined for two months with a knee injury. Wade, who had a standout performance against Boston in March, hitting a career-high 23 points, made an impact right away with a 3-pointer.
Boston’s center, Kristaps Porzingis, remained sidelined for the fourth consecutive game due to a calf injury.
