CLEVELAND — — Inexperienced uniforms. Massive pictures. Championship-level depth.
The Boston Celtics seemed rather more like themselves in Sport 3.
Jayson Tatum scored 33 factors, Jaylen Brown added 28 and the No. 1-seeded Celtics bounced again from a stumble at dwelling, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-93 on Saturday night time to take a 2-1 lead within the Jap Convention semifinals.
The Celtics did not fiddle after dropping Sport 2 on their dwelling parquet ground by 24 on Thursday. They could not.
“We don’t come to Cleveland for the climate, so let’s go,” mentioned Brown, who went 13 of 17 from the sector. “There’s nothing sophisticated about it: Play protection and the remaining will handle itself. We might have achieved higher, however we saved them below 100.”
The lackluster efficiency — Boston was favored by double digits — in Sport 2 was harking back to the primary spherical, when the Celtics misplaced the second recreation towards Miami earlier than successful three in a row to get rid of the Warmth.
“Tonight was an amazing take a look at, a possibility for us to come back out and reply, and play higher and more durable,” mentioned Tatum, who added 13 rebounds and 6 assists. “There was a objective behind each play. We did a great job speaking our actions.”
Tatum scored on a three-point play and the Celtics opened the second half with 14 straight factors to take a 23-point lead.
That was approach an excessive amount of for the Cavs, who overcame a 22-point deficit within the fourth quarter to stun Boston in March.
“We felt like attempting to punch them within the face instantly was the suitable possibility,” mentioned Jrue Vacation, who scored 15 of his 18 factors within the first half. “J.B. (Brown) advised us it wasn’t over and we knew that. We’ve been up 20 within the fourth quarter right here and so they got here again and received.”
Donovan Mitchell scored 33 factors for Cleveland, however the All-Star guard aggravated a left knee damage within the fourth quarter and was labored. With Boston up 13 and in management, Mitchell left the court docket with 1:19 left and walked on to the locker room.
Afterward, Mitchell did not say something in regards to the damage, however bemoaned Cleveland’s gradual begin after halftime.
“It modified the sport,” he mentioned. “Give them credit score. They got here out with a way of urgency. It is powerful to come back again from that. They got here out with an intention.”
Cleveland acquired inside 9 thrice within the fourth however the Celtics, who went simply 8 of 35 on 3-pointers in Sport 2, acquired back-to-back 3s from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White to gradual the Cavs’ comeback.
Sport 4 is Monday night time in Cleveland.
“We want everyone to be on the identical web page and everyone to come back out with the identical effort,” Brown mentioned. “The remainder will handle itself as a result of we’ve acquired sufficient expertise on this locker room.”
Down by 23 and unable to cease Tatum, the Cavs clawed again.
They reduce Boston’s result in 15 by the tip of the third, and scored the primary six factors within the fourth, sending their towel-waving crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse searching for one other upset right into a frenzy.
However each time the Celtics wanted a bucket, they went to both Tatum or Brown, who broke down Cleveland’s protection for layups or made powerful, contested jumpers.
“After they get going, that is who they’re,” Mitchell mentioned. “We fought and we clawed again however that begin of the third quarter, that is what did it.”
Evan Mobley added 17 factors and Darius Garland and Caris LeVert 15 apiece for the Cavs, who misplaced for the primary time at dwelling in these playoffs.
Cleveland was once more with out beginning middle Jarrett Allen, who missed his sixth straight recreation with a painful rib damage. Allen has been out since Sport 4 of the opening-round collection towards Orlando and there is no telling when — or if — he’ll be obtainable.
Mitchell made six 3-pointers and scored 23 within the first half to tempo the Cavs, however Cleveland did not get almost sufficient from the remainder of its starters or bench because the Celtics opened a 57-48 halftime lead.
After the Celtics had been surprised on their dwelling ground in Sport 2 regardless of being heavy favorites, coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned the message to his gamers heading into Sport 3 was easy.
“Do what you do finest, and do it higher,” he mentioned.
The Celtics began chilly once more, lacking their first two 3-pointers. However these good early appears raised their confidence, and so they made 5 3s within the first quarter to take a 30-28 lead after one.
By then Sport 2 was forgotten, and Tatum was assured all of the Celtics would present up.
“I’ve achieved that loads of occasions earlier than (rating 33 factors),” he mentioned. “The factors will come and go, however the poise we performed with was an important. And we did it in an amazing atmosphere that was enjoyable to be part of.”
Cleveland acquired a pleasant early raise as ahead Dean Wade made his postseason debut after lacking the previous two months with a sprained knee. Wade, who scored a career-high 23 towards Boston on March 5 when the Cavs overcame a 22-point deficit within the fourth quarter, knocked down a 3-pointer on his first contact.
Boston middle Kristaps Porzingis missed his fourth straight recreation with a calf pressure.
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