Pleasure rapidly changed into disappointment at TD Backyard on Friday evening. The Boston Celtics noticed an early 22-point lead evaporate as they fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this season.
After all, this sport had a ton of buzz heading into it, and rightfully so. It was the ultimate regular-season matchup of the 12 months for the Japanese Convention’s prime two seeds, and the celebs performed prefer it.
Boston bought monster performances from Jayson Tatum (46 factors) and Jaylen Brown (37 factors), whereas the Cavs rode Donovan Mitchell’s seemingly everlasting scorching hand to victory. Mitchell completed the evening with 41 factors and sank large photographs any time he had the chance.
He scored 26 within the second half alone, serving because the driving pressure for his workforce’s assertion win on the parquet — similar to he did in Cleveland’s win at house towards the Cs earlier this season. The All-Star guard did all of it. He drilled momentum-swinging threes, hit a number of right-handed floaters in visitors, and even threw down a loud dunk within the fourth.
“Tonight he tried to search out the matchups that he needed and issues like that to get himself in a great place,” mentioned Brown postgame.
To be sincere with you, I don’t assume a single particular person watching this sport was shocked to see Mitchell do that. It’s change into the norm towards Boston at this level.
He’s a licensed Celtic Killer. We’re not speaking concerning the Ish Smith-level of Celtic killer the place you’re simply irritated that the eighth man off the bench managed to attain 1.
No.
Mitchell is among the greats.
The person has the very best profession scoring common towards Boston EVER. His 30.8 factors per sport is barely higher than Michael Jordan’s 30.7. Anytime you’re topping MJ, you’re doing one thing fairly unbelievable.
Since becoming a member of the Cavaliers in the summertime of 2022, he’s been unbelievable. He’s confronted the Cs ten occasions within the common season, has scored greater than 40 factors on 4 totally different events, and has had 30 or extra eight occasions. Mitchell’s worst sport throughout this span was a 25-point outing in November of 2022.
If Cleveland is taking part in Boston, Mitchell shall be there it doesn’t matter what.
His overwhelming presence goes to make a possible playoff matchup between these two groups all of the extra attention-grabbing.
“If we doubtlessly see them down the road, we’ll have some good info,” Brown added.
Good info or not, it’s going to be a problem to gradual Mitchell down over the course of seven video games.
The playoffs, in any case, are the place true Celtic Killers write their legacy. Guys like LeBron James, Khris Middleton, and Jimmy Butler have had unbelievable showings vs. Boston within the spring.
Mitchell was good final 12 months within the second spherical with 31.7 factors per sport on 51.5/53.3 taking pictures splits, however wound up getting injured earlier than Boston received the collection in 5 video games. Even within the three matchups he performed in, the Cavs solely managed to take one.
I suppose we’ll all simply have to attend a couple of months to see if he’s capable of do sufficient to get his squad previous the reigning champs. Within the meantime, it’s solely honest to respect him as certainly one of this franchise’s nice foes.
