Game ID: 42300201
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 40 19 33 28 120CLE 34 15 28 18 95
BOS vs CLE ScoutingBOS vs CLE Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 4/24 · 2 days' restBACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 41 min since (112% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (101% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (118% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 26 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Queta back 4/12 after 10, 19 min since (167% of 11)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Hauser 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Kornet 15 to 20 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 4/27 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 4/21, returns tonight: 5 min (36% of 15)
OUT Tillman missed 2 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Queta missed 2 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 4/21, returns tonight: 1 min (13% of 10)
BACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 41 min since (112% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (105% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 32 min since (110% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 25 min since (89% of 28)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/29 · 1 day's restOUT Tillman missed 3 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Queta missed 3 since 4/21, out tonight
BACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 40 min since (110% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 33 min since (101% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 30 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 5 min since (36% of 15)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 1 min since (13% of 10)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 5/01 · 1 day's restOUT Tillman missed 4 since 4/21, returns tonight: 7 min (58% of 12)
OUT Queta missed 4 since 4/21, out tonight
BACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 40 min since (108% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (106% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 26 min since (90% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 26 min since (95% of 28)
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 4 min since (29% of 15)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 1 min since (13% of 10)
BOS availability going into 5/07 · 5 days' restOUT Queta missed 5 since 4/21, returns tonight: 3 min (27% of 11)
BACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 38 min since (104% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 26 min since (90% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 26 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 9 min since (61% of 15)
BACK Tillman back 5/01 after 4, 7 min since (58% of 12)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 3 min since (32% of 10)
BOS availability going into 5/09 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 5/01, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 12 min since (82% of 15)
BACK Tillman back 5/01 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 12)
BACK Queta back 5/07 after 5, 3 min since (27% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 3 min since (31% of 10)
BOS availability going into 5/11 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 5/01, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 12 min since (82% of 15)
BACK Tillman back 5/01 after 4, 8 min since (69% of 12)
BACK Queta back 5/07 after 5, 4 min since (36% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 10)
BOS availability going into 5/13 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 5/01, out tonight
BACK Tillman back 5/01 after 4, 8 min since (69% of 12)
BACK Queta back 5/07 after 5, 4 min since (36% of 11)
BOS availability going into 5/15 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 5 since 5/01, out tonight
OUT Tillman missed 2 since 5/11, out tonight
OUT Queta missed 2 since 5/11, out tonight
CLE availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 22 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 4/20 after 3, 13 min since (77% of 17)
BACK Morris Sr. back 4/14 after 2, 14 min since (94% of 15)
BACK Thompson back 4/14 after 3, 11 min since (102% of 11)
CLE availability going into 4/30 · 2 days' restOUT Wade missed 23 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 4/20 after 3, 10 min since (62% of 17)
BACK Morris Sr. back 4/14 after 2, 11 min since (75% of 15)
BACK Thompson back 4/14 after 3, 9 min since (86% of 11)
CLE availability going into 5/03 · 2 days' restOUT Wade missed 24 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 4/20 after 3, 9 min since (55% of 17)
BACK Morris Sr. back 4/25 after 2, 14 min since (90% of 15)
BACK Thompson back 4/25 after 2, 8 min since (76% of 11)
CLE availability going into 5/05 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 2 since 4/30, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 25 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Morris Sr. back 4/25 after 2, 17 min since (112% of 15)
BACK Thompson back 4/25 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 11)
CLE availability going into 5/07 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 3 since 4/30, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 26 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Morris Sr. back 4/25 after 2, 15 min since (99% of 15)
BACK Thompson back 4/25 after 2, 9 min since (81% of 11)
CLE availability going into 5/09 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 4 since 4/30, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 27 since 3/10, out tonight
CLE availability going into 5/11 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 5 since 4/30, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 28 since 3/10, returns tonight: 17 min (82% of 20)
CLE availability going into 5/13 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 6 since 4/30, out tonight
BACK Wade back 5/11 after 28, 17 min since (82% of 20)
NEW Mitchell 36 to 41 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 5/15 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 7 since 4/30, out tonight
BACK Wade back 5/11 after 28, 21 min since (101% of 20)
NEW Mitchell 36 to 41 min over the last 4
NEW Eva. Mobley 32 to 36 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 92, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 23 and White at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. 5 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Garland at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Allen (3 straight), Wade (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Cleveland minus-10 and the arc, Boston at 38 percent from three to Cleveland's 29. Call it Boston 112, Cleveland 101, Boston by 11.
4/24 vs MIA 101-111 — BOS notes
BOS lost 101-111. BOS shot 46% (37 of 80) to MIA's 49%, 12 of 32 from three. Brown led with 33 (13 of 23, 4 of 9 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Tatum added 28, White 13. Q2 was theirs, 34-30, turning a 1-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 81-67 against them. Porziņģis's -32 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/27 @ MIA 104-84 — BOS notes
BOS won 104-84. BOS shot 48% (39 of 82) to MIA's 42%, 11 of 37 from three, and went to the line 21 times to MIA's 14 — 15 points from the stripe to their 11. BOS turned it over 5 times to MIA's 12. Tatum led with 22 (6 of 16, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Brown added 22, Porziņģis 18. The hinge was Q2, 42-27: a lead of 9 became 24, and the lead reached 29. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
4/29 @ MIA 102-88 — BOS notes
BOS won 102-88. BOS shot 42% (36 of 86) to MIA's 41%, 14 of 37 from three, and went to the line 18 times to MIA's 12 — 16 points from the stripe to their 9. White led with 38 (15 of 26, 8 of 15 from three); Tatum added 20, Brown 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-24: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
5/01 vs MIA 118-84 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-84. BOS shot 55% (42 of 77) to MIA's 41%, 16 of 40 from three, and went to the line 27 times to MIA's 10 — 18 points from the stripe to their 9. BOS turned it over 14 times to MIA's 6. The glass went 56-29 for them. White led with 25 (8 of 13, 5 of 10 from three); Brown added 25, Hauser 17. The hinge was Q1, 41-23: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 37. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
5/07 vs CLE 120-95 — BOS notes
BOS won 120-95. BOS shot 49% (45 of 92) to CLE's 41%, 18 of 46 from three. The glass went 55-38 for them. Brown led with 32 (12 of 18, 4 of 6 from three); White added 25, Tatum 18. The hinge was Q4, 28-18: a lead of 15 became 25. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
5/09 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 92, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and White at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Porziņģis (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 34 and Garland at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (4 straight), Wade (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Cleveland minus-9 and the defense, Boston allowing 92 a night to Cleveland's 106. Call it Boston 112, Cleveland 102, Boston by 10.
5/11 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 36 and Garland at 17 a game. Without Allen (5 straight), Wade (28 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 94, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 23 and White at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Porziņģis (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Cleveland minus-4 and the defense, Boston allowing 94 a night to Cleveland's 103. Call it Boston 109, Cleveland 105, Cleveland keeping it close.
5/13 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 37 and Garland at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (6 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 96, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the defense, Boston allowing 96 a night to Cleveland's 103. Call it Boston 109, Cleveland 105, Cleveland keeping it close.
5/15 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 98, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Tatum at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Porziņģis (5 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Mitchell at 34 and Eva. Mobley at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Allen (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Cleveland minus-6 and the defense, Boston allowing 98 a night to Cleveland's 105. Call it Boston 112, Cleveland 104.
4/27 @ ORL 89-112 — CLE notes
CLE lost 89-112. CLE shot 47% (34 of 72) to ORL's 56%, 4 of 17 from three. The glass went 29-43 against them. Allen led with 21 (8 of 11, 5 of 7 at the line); Mitchell added 18, Garland 14. Q2 was theirs, 37-29, but the other 3 periods went 83-52 against them. They led by as many as 10. Garland's -27 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/30 vs ORL 104-103 — CLE notes
CLE won 104-103. CLE shot 43% (38 of 88) to ORL's 46%, 13 of 37 from three, and got to the line 19 times to ORL's 29. Mitchell led with 28 (9 of 23, 1 of 7 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Garland added 23, Strus 16. The hinge was Q1, 33-23: from level to 10 ahead.
5/03 @ ORL 96-103 — CLE notes
CLE lost 96-103. CLE shot 49% (42 of 86) to ORL's 39%, 7 of 28 from three, and got to the line just 10 times against 23 fouls committed. The glass went 38-48 against them. Mitchell led with 50 (22 of 36, 3 of 9 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Garland added 21, Strus 10. Q3 was theirs, 29-20, turning a 4-point deficit into a 5-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 83-67 against them. Strus's -7 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/05 vs ORL 106-94 — CLE notes
CLE won 106-94. CLE shot 44% (34 of 77) to ORL's 34%, 8 of 24 from three, and went to the line 36 times to ORL's 30 — 30 points from the stripe to their 26. Mitchell led with 39 (11 of 27, 2 of 8 from three, 15 of 17 at the line); LeVert added 15, Strus 13. The hinge was Q3, 33-15: CLE came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 8. CLE trailed 43-53 at the half and won the second half 63-41. Okoro was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
5/07 @ BOS 95-120 — CLE notes
CLE lost 95-120. CLE shot 41% (37 of 90) to BOS's 49%, 11 of 42 from three. The glass went 38-55 against them. Mitchell led with 33 (12 of 25, 4 of 11 from three); Mobley added 17, Garland 14. Q2 was theirs, 15-19, but the other 3 periods went 101-80 against them. Mobley's -21 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/09 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 92, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and White at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Porziņģis (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 34 and Garland at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (4 straight), Wade (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Cleveland minus-9 and the defense, Boston allowing 92 a night to Cleveland's 106. Call it Boston 112, Cleveland 102, Boston by 10.
5/11 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 36 and Garland at 17 a game. Without Allen (5 straight), Wade (28 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 94, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 23 and White at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Porziņģis (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Cleveland minus-4 and the defense, Boston allowing 94 a night to Cleveland's 103. Call it Boston 109, Cleveland 105, Cleveland keeping it close.
5/13 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 37 and Garland at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (6 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 96, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the defense, Boston allowing 96 a night to Cleveland's 103. Call it Boston 109, Cleveland 105, Cleveland keeping it close.
5/15 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 98, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Tatum at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Porziņģis (5 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Mitchell at 34 and Eva. Mobley at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Allen (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Cleveland minus-6 and the defense, Boston allowing 98 a night to Cleveland's 105. Call it Boston 112, Cleveland 104.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
LK L. Kornet
NQ N. Queta
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
XT X. Tillman
CLECL C. LeVert
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
MM M. Morris Sr.
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
BOS/CLE the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Brown, White lead Celtics' 3-point onslaught, powering Boston to 120-95 Game 1 win over Cavaliers
BOSTON -- — When Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum have it going, it usually means good things for the Boston Celtics .
This postseason, it's also been opening up the floor —- and the 3-point line —- for Derrick White . That's added a new layer to a team that was already the one to beat in the East.
Brown scored 32 points, White made seven 3-pointers and added 25, and the Celtics powered past the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-95 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
Tatum finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds to help the Celtics pull away in the second half .
“It feels good. I think the most important thing is to win,” White said. “I've said before, it doesn't matter if I score zero or score however many I scored today. When we win, I'm doing enough.”
The Cavaliers went 11 of 42 from 3-point range and kept pace early. But the Celtics were even more efficient from the outside, connecting on 18 of 46 from beyond the arc for the game.
It helped Boston carry a 15-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Celtics then started the final period on a 10-2 run to increase their lead to 102-79.
At one point early in the fourth, Brown shot 3 from the top of the key and turned his head before it fell through the hoop, reminiscent of Golden State sharpshooter Stephen Curry .
“I had it rolling tonight,” Brown said. “You just want to come out and make the right plays, make the right reads. That’s all it is. Playing through your teammates and playing with confidence.”
Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston.
The attention on Brown and Tatum has created a myriad of open looks for White throughout the season. White's 28 3-pointers over a six-game span are the most in Celtics playoff history. Boston has also won its past 21 games when he's attempted at least 12 3-pointers.
Donovan Mitchell had 33 points and six assists for the Cavaliers. He is the fourth player in league history to score 30 or more points in six straight playoff series openers, joining Michael Jordan (three times), Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain .
Darius Garland added 14 points.
Mitchell logged 37 minutes after playing 45 in Cleveland's Game 7 win in the first round over Orlando. It's a lot, but coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged they have to watch the load the put on him.
“We try to put him out there as long as we can. He’s playing over 40 minutes a game. So we’re doing our best to keep him out there because we know how impactful he is," Bickerstaff said. "But we’re not going to run him into the ground, so he’s got nothing left in the fourth quarter.”
Mitchell said it's a load he's ready for.
“I understand I need to score the ball," he said.
White picked up where he left off after scoring 38 and 25 points in the final two games against the Miami Heat in the first round.
With the Cavaliers hot from the 3-point line early, White led the Celtics attack. It was his third time this postseason with at least six 3s.
Both teams played without their starting centers. Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen missed his fourth straight game with a bruised rib injury he sustained in the first round against Orlando. Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis was sidelined for the second consecutive game with a strained right calf.
The top-seeded Celtics got an extended break after making quick work of the Heat in the first round. They looked like a rested team, jumping out to a 12-2 lead, with nine of those points coming from Brown.
Mitchell was just as aggressive for Cleveland, scoring eight points during a 21-9 spurt by the Cavaliers to nudge back in front.
But Boston settled down, closing the opening period on a 19-11 run to take a 40-34 edge into the second.
The 74 combined points in the opening period were the most in a Celtics’ playoff game since 1990 and third-most in franchise history.
The Celtics took a 59-49 lead into halftime.
Mitchell, who played on the United States’ 2019 World Cup team with White, said he’s not surprised by his former teammate’s effort.
“I feel like he’s he’s had some things that he’s definitely added to his game. He’s the guy that’s always — whatever you need from him,” Mitchell said. “That’s that’s a big, selfless guy that comes in...tonight it’s 25, he might go 0-for but he’s doing other things defensively, and different things.”