Within the ultimate seconds of the third quarter Tuesday evening, Payton Pritchard corralled a rebound, zigzagged previous the brand and launched deep, contested 3-pointer.
Because the ball fell by means of the online, everybody’s fingers at TD Backyard shot up in unison. On an evening the place the Celtics managed the tempo all through however couldn’t draw back initially, Pritchard’s hoist proved to be the dagger.
The Celtics took a commanding 15-point edge into the fourth, prolonged it to 22 a couple of minutes in and cemented a 120-95 victory over the Cavaliers in Recreation 1. Jaylen Brown led the way in which with 32 and Derrick White added 25, nevertheless it was a balanced efficiency.
The Celtics ensured Cleveland’s momentum from Recreation 7 in opposition to Orlando – and Boston’s six days with no recreation, for that matter – wasn’t an element. Boston, with Paul Pierce, Mike Gorman and different celebrities in the home, systematically wore the Cavaliers down and finally overpowered them within the second half.
Brown got here out with an aggressive mind-set, utilizing the upfake to his benefit and burning the Cavaliers from inside and outside. He scored 9 factors early, serving to the Celtics constructed a 12-2 edge within the opening minutes.
Donovan Mitchell (33 factors) and the Cavaliers stormed again, utilizing a 21-9 flurry to tug forward, 23-21. The Celtics’ defensive depth wasn’t the place it wanted to be halfway by means of the quarter. Enter Luke Kornet.
Kornet used his size to change pictures on the rim on one finish and thrived as a screen-setter and space-filler on the opposite. The Cavaliers positioned a lot consideration on Jayson Tatum (18 factors) and Brown (for good motive) that Kornet was typically the beneficiary underneath the rim.
He helped the Celtics flip a 25-25 tie right into a 40-34 lead by means of one. Brown completed the quarter with 15 factors – his solely miss approaching a half-court heave on the buzzer. The Celtics shot 54.2 p.c, moved the ball effectively and persistently generated high-quality seems. The one drawback for Boston was that Cleveland shot 50 p.c from 3-point vary and seemed far too comfy at occasions.
Each groups ratcheted up the defensive depth in a sleepy and considerably sluggish second quarter, because the tempo shifted and both sides chucked up a string of misses.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla turned to a double-big lineup of Al Horford and Xavier Tillman Sr. Tillman, who logged simply seven whole minutes within the Warmth sequence, flummoxed the Cavaliers within the paint.
Neither aspect discovered a lot a of a rhythm, however Tatum continued to do a little bit of every little thing even together with his shot not falling. Boston constructed a 59-49 halftime edge, but Cleveland hung round partially due to the Celtics’ poor 3-point taking pictures (27.3 p.c).
Each groups regained their rhythm early within the third, with Brown persevering with to cook dinner and Jrue Vacation and Derrick White discovering a groove as effectively. Vacation and Brown secured back-to-back hustle offensive rebounds, resulting in one of many loudest roars of the evening from the Backyard trustworthy.
Brown then swatted a Mitchell layup and located a wide-open Vacation underneath the basket for 2 to push it to 80-64. White couldn’t miss within the third, pouring in 14 factors and eliciting a “Derrick White! Derrick White! Derrick White!” chant.
Manufacturing got here from throughout, and it got here on the proper moments.
Then got here Pritchard’s electrifying 3 on the buzzer that the Celtics a 92-77 edge by means of three. It seemed good off his fingers and was a no-doubter.
Vacation and Tatum stored it rolling from there. Mazzulla stored his starters on the market for many of the fourth, simply to be secure, however the final result had been determined way back.
One down, three to go for the Celtics. Recreation 2 is Thursday evening in Boston.
