When Donovan Mitchell hit a working three to provide Cleveland its first lead within the first quarter, it seemed just like the Cavaliers can be a match for the top-seeded Boston Celtics in Sport 1. They might not.
That early lead would even be the Cavaliers’ final lead in a 120-95 loss to the Celtics within the opening recreation of their first-round sequence. Boston rode a 32-point efficiency by Jaylen Brown and three quarters of sturdy protection to simply defeat the Cavaliers, who bought dominated on the boards and from three-point vary.
Brown scored the primary factors of the sport and by no means seemed again, ending 12-of-18 from the ground, and 4-of-6 from deep. Derrick White added 25 factors and 7 three-pointers of his personal, as Boston shot 48.9 p.c from the ground and 39.1 p.c from deep.
The Celtics additionally bought massive contributions from their bench, the place Payton Pritchard hit 4 threes and Luke Kornet collected 10 rebounds. In contrast, Cleveland bought one three-pointer from its complete bench, which shot 5-of-19 general.
The Cavaliers did not have Jarrett Allen for the fourth straight playoff recreation, a part of why they bought outrebounded, 55-38. They did get 33 factors from Mitchell, 17 factors and 13 rebounds from Evan Mobley and three threes from Isaac Okoro, however the Cavaliers did not have the offensive firepower or the inside measurement to cease the Celtics.
Merely put, a crew that has to play Tristan Thompson for 16 minutes of a playoff recreation is outmanned towards an offensive juggernaut just like the Celtics. It did not assist that Caris Levert performed 26 minutes and managed solely 4 factors.
Can Cleveland flip issues round? Maybe if Allen can come again, the Cavaliers can decelerate the Celtics offense higher, transfer Okoro or Max Strus to the bench and rely much less on their different punchless reserves. Till then, Mitchell’s shot might have given them the final lead they’re going to see shortly.
