Video: Celtics fend off shorthanded Cavaliers, take 3-1 lead in NBA playoffs

The Boston Celtics managed to overcome a determined challenge from a depleted Cleveland Cavaliers team on Monday, securing a 109-102 victory to advance to a 3-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series.

Jayson Tatum was pivotal in the win, scoring 33 points and collecting 11 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown contributed 27 points. The Celtics are now poised to close out the best-of-seven series during the next game at their home court on Wednesday.

The Cavaliers felt the absence of key player Donovan Mitchell, who was sidelined with a calf injury. Mitchell had been averaging over 35 points in his last six games. His absence, compounded by the loss of starting center Jarrett Allen, left the Cavs significantly weakened. Even with NBA superstar LeBron James watching from the sidelines, the team lacked the offensive strength to overcome the Celtics.

Cleveland did take a brief lead in the early moments of the third quarter thanks to Darius Garland’s driving basket, marking their first lead since the opening quarter. However, the Celtics quickly regained control and entered the final period with a ten-point lead.

Despite a strong performance from Garland, who scored 30 points, Cleveland narrowed the gap to five points several times in the last four minutes. A crucial three-pointer from Brown, set up by Tatum, with just over a minute remaining, essentially clinched the victory for Boston.

Reflecting on the game, Tatum acknowledged the challenges posed by the Cavaliers, noting, “It’s a game of runs. It’s not going to be perfect every time. They’re going to make shots, but it’s our job to figure it out.”

The Celtics had dominated early on, creating a significant lead with a 12-0 run in the first quarter, during which Tatum scored 16 points. They led by up to 13 points in the second quarter, but the Cavs rallied back, hitting 11 of their 15 three-point attempts before halftime and reducing the deficit to just one point on two occasions. The half ended with Boston leading by five.

A controversial moment occurred in the second quarter when Brown, falling backward, inadvertently grabbed at Max Strus’s ankle. Brown was only charged with a common foul, a decision that later drew criticism from Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who expressed disappointment with the officiating. “I thought our guys deserved much better,” Bickerstaff stated, pointing out the disparity in free-throw opportunities between the two teams.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks were set to build on their 2-1 series lead against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in a later Western Conference game.