Despite Jays’ masterclass, Cavs mount big comeback to win 123-116 over Celtics

Coming off of a blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Celtics returned dwelling to face off towards the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Within the ultimate matchup of the season between these two Japanese Convention juggernauts, it was the Cavs that took down the Celtics 123-116 in a dogfight.

Jayson Tatum placed on a masterclass with 46 factors, 16 rebounds and 9 assists on 19-37 capturing whereas Jaylen Brown scored 37 factors on 13-24 capturing, but it surely wasn’t sufficient. Donovan Mitchell scored 41 factors on 13-26 capturing and virtually single-handedly gained the Cavs the sport within the second half.

The Cavs rebounding was large, giving them a number of probabilities to attain and successful the rebounding matchup 44-40. Cleveland’s bench additionally dominated Boston’s, outscoring them 33-6.

After being listed as questionable a lot of the day, Jaylen Brown began the scoring for Boston with a 3 pointer. This ignited the Celtics offense as a midrange jumper from Tatum and two threes from Sam Hauser and Derrick White resulted in an 11-0 run for Boston to pressure an early Cavaliers timeout.

The timeout didn’t sluggish the Celtics offense down as Boston was completely on fireplace, opening up a 25-3 lead in below 5 minutes of recreation time. It was a long-range aerial assault for the Celtics as they began the sport capturing 7-9 from three and had the Boston trustworthy able to blow the roof off the highest of TD Backyard.

Torrey Craig and Drew Peterson received some early first quarter minutes for the Celtics, but it surely was all about Jayson Tatum. With 18 factors within the first quarter, Tatum handed Wilt Chamberlain for sixth place in factors scored earlier than the age of 27.

Cleveland began to mount a comeback on the finish of the primary quarter, led by Ty Jerome who completed with 8 factors. Nonetheless, the Cavs nonetheless trailed the Celtics 38-26 on the finish of the primary. The Celtics shot 52% from the sector and 50% from three within the first quarter as Jaylen Brown (11 factors) and Jayson Tatum (18 factors) single handedly outscored the Cavs 29-26.

Tatum had a historic begin, as he grew to become the one participant within the play-by-play period with a primary quarter of at the least 18 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.

The second quarter began with 7 straight factors from Donovan Mitchell, however Boston had a solution as Jaylen Brown continued his scorching capturing. Cleveland began to discover a groove as a 17-5 run minimize the Celtics result in 2 as Boston’s offense began to decelerate.

The Cavs had been in a position to get again into this recreation because of their bench as they outscored the Celtics 28-3 with contributions from DeAndre Hunter, Ty Jerome, Isaac Okoro, and Dean Wade.

Jayson Tatum received the Celtics offense again on monitor with 8 straight factors and 13-4 run to get Boston’s lead again as much as double digits at one level however the Cavs continued to combat again. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell did a superb job protecting the Cavs within the recreation however nonetheless trailed the Celtics 74-64 on the half behind Tatum’s good efficiency.

Jayson Tatum scored a ridiculous 30 factors within the first half alongside 9 rebounds and seven assists on 11-17 capturing from the sector and 4-8 from three. That is the primary time within the play-by-play period any participant has eclipsed these numbers in a half.

Jaylen Brown had 19 factors of his personal even with three fouls as Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 15 factors. Each groups shot the ball effectively within the first half as Boston shot 56% from the sector and 54% from three whereas Cleveland shot 54% from the sector and 50% from three. Though the Cavs had 22 factors within the paint, the Celtics’ 14 threes offset any momentum Cleveland tried to construct.

The third quarter began with the Jays persevering with pilot the Celtics offense, as Brown and Tatum scored 10 of Boston’s first 13 factors of the second half. Cleveland responded with a 9-0 run however Tatum wouldn’t allow them to acquire any floor. He was slicing by means of the Cavs protection and attending to the paint at will whereas enjoying some elite protection.

The Cavs had been down however Donovan Mitchell didn’t allow them to quit as he went on a 10-2 private run to make it a 98-95 recreation going into the fourth quarter.

Tatum scored 10 extra factors for a complete of 40 factors by means of three quarters whereas Mitchell scored 14 factors to stand up to 29. The Celtics three-point capturing began to fade within the quarter, solely capturing 2-8 from past the arc however nonetheless held the lead.

With Tatum on the bench to start the fourth quarter, Evan Mobley scored 9 straight factors for the Cavs as Cleveland took their first lead of the night time with 8:43 to go within the recreation. After a Celtics timeout, Tatum checked in and scored immediately as each groups began to commerce the lead.

After Jayson Tatum made a layup to make it a 3-point recreation, Darius Garland hit a 30-foot three to push the Cavs lead up once more and compelled the Celtics to name a timeout with 4:49 left within the recreation. Out of the Celtics timeout, Tatum received a wide-open dunk which made the Cavs name a timeout.

The Cavs missed two pictures out of the timeout and Jaylen Brown made them pay with back-to-back pictures to tie the sport once more. Mitchell responded with back-to-back layups together with an and-1 to make it a 5-point recreation once more. With 1:46 to go Jayson Tatum dedicated an offensive foul however Mitchell air balled a 3 on the opposite finish.

Derrick White then missed a 3 and with below a minute left, Garland made a protracted two make it a 7-point recreation. White got here down and hit two free throws, Garland missed a layup, however Tatum missed a 3 that will’ve made it a one possession recreation. Mitchell hit two free throws and Jaylen Brown missed a 3 because the Cleveland Cavaliers held on for the win.

The Celtics subsequent recreation is Sunday, March 2nd towards the Denver Nuggets at 1 pm.