After losing Game 2 by 24 points at home, the top-seeded Boston Celtics wasted no time as Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, Jaylen Brown added 28, helped Boston Celtics defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-93 in Game 3 on Saturday night to grab a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
This was also Cleveland Cavaliers' first home playoff loss this spring. Jayson Tatum made a three-point play, and the Celtics started the second half with 14 consecutive points to build a 23-point lead. That was much too much for the Cavs, who overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Boston in March.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland Cavaliers with 33 points, but the All-Star guard worsened a left knee injury in the fourth quarter and struggled to finish. With Boston up 13 and in control, Mitchell headed to the locker room with 1:19 remaining.
Cleveland pulled within nine points three times in the fourth, but the Celtics, who shot just 8 of 35 from three in Game 2, got back-to-back 3s from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White to hold off the Cavs' rally. The Cavs rallied after falling behind 23 points and being unable to stop Tatum.
Jarrett Allen missed his sxith game due to injury
They reduced Boston's advantage to 15 at the end of the third quarter and scored the first six points of the fourth, throwing the towel-waving crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse into a frenzy as they sought another upset. But anytime the Celtics needed a bucket, they turned to Tatum or Brown, who broke down Cleveland's defence for layups or hit difficult, contested jump shots.
Evan Mobley finished with 17 points, while Darius Garland and Caris LeVert each had 15. The Cavaliers lost at home for the first time in the playoffs. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland's starting centre, missed his sixth game in a row due to a serious rib injury.
Jarrett Allen has been sidelined since Game 4 of the first-round series against Orlando, and it's unclear when he'll be available. Kristaps Porzingis of Boston missed his fourth consecutive game due to a calf tightness.
As the series is now 2-1 Cleveland Cavaliers will host Game 4 on Monday night.
Here’s how fans reacted to Boston Celtics win over Cleveland Cavaliers:
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