Celtics Dominate Cavs in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Taking a 2-1 Series Lead
In a crucial Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Boston Celtics handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their first home loss of the playoffs, defeating them 106-93 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. This win gives the Celtics a 2-1 lead in the series.
Despite Donovan Mitchell’s impressive performance, scoring 33 points with seven out of twelve from the three-point line, and Evan Mobley’s resilient effort despite an aggravated ankle injury, the Cavaliers struggled to find support from the rest of their lineup.
The Celtics entered the game with high intensity, responding to their previous loss at TD Garden. The comments by Denver Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone seemed prophetic as the Celtics showed they had not forgotten their defeat: “You can’t just flush an a** whooping.”
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday led the charge for Boston, quickly making their presence felt. For Cleveland, Mitchell and Mobley tried to counter, but the team faltered, shooting only 33 percent in the second quarter while Boston maintained a 23 percent higher accuracy, leading to a 57-48 advantage at the break.
The Celtics then ramped up their attack, starting the second half with an 8-0 run before Cleveland responded. Despite efforts by Darius Garland and Mobley to rally the Cavaliers, Boston maintained control, sealing the victory by executing on both ends of the court in the final quarter.
Cleveland’s statistics reveal the struggle, with only 48 points in the paint and minimal contributions from bench players. Boston outperformed them in critical areas, including interior scoring and second-chance points.
Individual performances highlighted the disparity between the teams. Besides Mitchell and Mobley, Cavs players struggled, with players like Darius Garland and Max Strus failing to convert key shots. The Celtics’ trio of Tatum, Brown, and Holiday combined for an efficient offensive display, overwhelming the Cavaliers’ defense.
The Cavaliers also faced challenges defensively, particularly from the perimeter, and were out-rebounded, further hampering their efforts.
As the series progresses, Cleveland will have to address these issues head-on if they aim to bounce back in Game 4. The Cavaliers are set to host the Celtics again at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday, May 13, at 7:00 PM Eastern Time, hoping to even the series.