The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers confirmed what NBA basketball appears to be like like at its greatest on Friday evening, as the 2 high groups within the East supplied an exhilarating potential convention finals preview at TD Backyard. This didn’t all the time appear to be an immediate basic: the Celtics took an enormous lead early within the first quarter earlier than Cleveland rallied again to make it aggressive, after which zoomed forward within the second half.
Celtics ahead Sam Hauser buried a three-pointer to place Boston up 22-3 at first of the sport. The Celtics instantly compelled a turnover, and Jayson Tatum buried one other three on the opposite finish. Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson referred to as timeout, and as Tatum went to bench, he had a message for the Cavs: “Go the f—- dwelling.”
Tatum had motive to be feeling himself with a 25-3 lead in the meanwhile. Just one downside: there was nonetheless 41 minutes left within the recreation. Cleveland roared again to steal the win, making Tatum’s quote go viral after the buzzer.
The Cavs beat the Celtics, 123-116, to steal a highway win over the reigning champions. Cleveland out-score Boston 120-91 after Tatum advised the Cavs to ‘go the f—- dwelling.’
Tatum was spectacular on the evening, ending with 46 factors, 16 rebounds, 9 assists, and three blocks on 19-of-37 taking pictures from the ground. The Celtics famous person was purple sizzling within the first half with 30 factors, however he shot solely 8-of-20 within the second half and didn’t make a three-pointer after halftime. When Tatum had a shot to present the Celtics one final probability late within the fourth quarter, he got here up approach, approach brief:
The Cavs have been purple sizzling after their sluggish begin. Cleveland ripped 17-of-39 three-pointers (43.6 p.c) and did a terrific job limiting turnovers (solely seven on the evening). Donovan Mitchell matched Tatum blow-for-blow to complete with 41 factors on 13-of-26 taking pictures. Mitchell was constantly attending to the foul line on Boston’s dwelling flooring. None of Boston’s group of improbable defenders may keep in entrance of him.
What a comeback from the Cavs. Watch the way in which they erased Boston’s large first quarter lead right here:
We want a Cavs-Celtics Jap Convention Finals sequence so badly. This was elite hoops.
