Coming off of a blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Celtics returned house to face off towards the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Within the last 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 taking pictures whereas Jaylen Brown scored 37 factors on 13-24 taking pictures, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient. Donovan Mitchell scored 41 factors on 13-26 taking pictures and virtually single-handedly gained the Cavs the sport within the second half.
The Cavs rebounding was enormous, 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.
Photograph by David Dow/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
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 drive an early Cavaliers timeout.
The timeout didn’t gradual the Celtics offense down as Boston was completely on fireplace, opening up a 25-3 lead in below 5 minutes of sport time. It was a long-range aerial assault for the Celtics as they began the sport taking pictures 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 acquired some early first quarter minutes for the Celtics, nevertheless it 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.
Jayson Tatum simply handed Wilt Chamberlain into sixth place in factors scored earlier than turning 27.
1. LeBron James – 17,4602. Kevin Durant – 15,5373. Carmelo Anthony – 14,6814. Kobe Bryant – 14,0345. Tracy McGrady – 13,5706. JAYSON TATUM – 13,3567. Wilt Chamberlain – 13,355 pic.twitter.com/tu03Kspgtc
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) March 1, 2025
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 sphere 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.
Gamers with at the least 18 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a block within the first quarter since 1996-97: Tatum tonight.
Nobody else.
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) March 1, 2025
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
The second quarter began with 7 straight factors from Donovan Mitchell, however Boston had a solution as Jaylen Brown continued his scorching taking pictures. Cleveland began to discover a groove as a 17-5 run reduce the Celtics result in 2 as Boston’s offense began to decelerate.
The Cavs had been in a position to get again into this sport 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 acquired the Celtics offense again on observe 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 struggle again. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell did a great job conserving the Cavs within the sport however nonetheless trailed the Celtics 74-64 on the half behind Tatum’s sensible efficiency.
Jayson Tatum scored a ridiculous 30 factors within the first half alongside 9 rebounds and seven assists on 11-17 taking pictures from the sphere 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.
Jayson Tatum’s first half was one for the historical past books
30 PTS | 9 REB | 7 AST
That is the primary time within the play-by-play period (1997-98) that these numbers have been reached in ANY half pic.twitter.com/BFZ4R4eCIr
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2025
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 sphere and 54% from three whereas Cleveland shot 54% from the sphere and 50% from three. Though the Cavs had 22 factors within the paint, the Celtics’ 14 threes offset any momentum Cleveland tried to construct.
Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos
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 the Cavs protection and attending to the paint at will whereas taking part in some elite protection.
The Cavs had been down however Donovan Mitchell didn’t allow them to surrender as he went on a 10-2 private run to make it a 98-95 sport going into the fourth quarter.
Tatum scored 10 extra factors for a complete of 40 factors by three quarters whereas Mitchell scored 14 factors to rise up to 29. The Celtics three-point taking pictures began to fade within the quarter, solely taking pictures 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 evening with 8:43 to go within the sport. After a Celtics timeout, Tatum checked in and scored instantly as each groups began to commerce the lead.
After Jayson Tatum made a layup to make it a 3-point sport, 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 sport. Out of the Celtics timeout, Tatum acquired a wide-open dunk which made the Cavs name a timeout.
The Cavs missed two photographs out of the timeout and Jaylen Brown made them pay with back-to-back photographs to tie the sport once more. Mitchell responded with back-to-back layups together with an and-1 to make it a 5-point sport 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 an extended two make it a 7-point sport. 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 sport. Mitchell hit two free throws and Jaylen Brown missed a 3 because the Cleveland Cavaliers held on for the win.
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
The Celtics subsequent sport is Sunday, March 2nd towards the Denver Nuggets at 1 pm.