BOSTON—In an exhilarating match, Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a stunning victory over the Boston Celtics by scoring 41 points on Friday night. The Cavaliers managed to come back from a 22-point deficit to defeat the Celtics, 123-116, in what was the final regular-season meeting between the Eastern Conference’s top two teams.
Alongside Mitchell’s impressive performance, Darius Garland contributed 20 points and seven assists, while Evan Mobley recorded his 27th double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. This victory allowed Cleveland to split the four-game series against Boston as the playoffs approach in just over two months.
Jayson Tatum gave a valiant effort for the Celtics, ending the night with 46 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists. Jaylen Brown added 37 points, marking the first occasion this season that Boston’s leading players both achieved 30-point games.
While the Cavaliers benefited from a fully available roster, the Celtics played without key starters Jrue Holiday, due to a finger injury, and Kristaps Porzingis, who was out due to illness. Despite these absences, the Celtics began the game strong, taking a 25-3 lead. However, the Cavaliers mounted an incredible comeback, fueled by a 41-22 run that significantly narrowed the gap.
Takeaways from the game included the Cavaliers gaining considerable confidence from this victory, as they were previously eliminated by the Celtics in the playoffs last season. On the flip side, the Celtics’ record at home now stands at just 18-11.
A key moment in the match occurred when the Celtics, trailing 114-110, managed to get back-to-back stops. Brown capitalized on these stops with consecutive baskets to level the match. But Mitchell swiftly regained the lead for the Cavaliers with a floater. After a missed opportunity by Brown, Mitchell solidified Cleveland’s position with a driving layup followed by a successful free throw, pushing the score to 119-114 with 1:57 left to play.
An outstanding statistic from the game was Tatum’s first-half performance, where he scored 30 points, secured nine rebounds, and provided seven assists. This made him the first player to achieve these numbers in the opening half since the play-by-play era began in 1997-98.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to play again on Sunday. The Cavaliers will host the Trail Blazers, while the Celtics prepare to welcome the Nuggets to their home court.
