The shorthanded Celtics suffered a tough 115-111 loss to the Cavaliers on Sunday after squandering an 11-point fourth-quarter lead. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 35 points, including 20 in the final frame, to snap a two-game losing streak and stay ahead of Boston in the Eastern Conference standings. Despite missing Derrick White and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics closed the first half strong and built a commanding lead in the third quarter thanks to Jayson Tatum’s hot shooting.
However, the Cavs rallied late in the game, with Mitchell leading the charge to secure the win. Although Tatum scored 33 points and Payton Pritchard added 24, it wasn’t enough to hold off Cleveland’s comeback. The loss ended Boston’s seven-game winning streak and dropped them 1.5 games behind the Cavs in the East.
The Celtics struggled on offense without their top scorers and defensive lapses late in the game cost them the win. Drew Peterson impressed with his opportunity on the wing, while Tatum’s third-quarter performance stood out as a bright spot for Boston. The Celtics’ defensive breakdowns in crunch time highlighted areas for improvement moving forward.
Overall, it was a disappointing loss for the Celtics, but they will have a chance to bounce back and address their weaknesses before potentially facing the Cavs again in the playoffs. Despite the setback, there were some positive individual performances that Boston can build on as they aim to secure a higher seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
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Photo credit www.masslive.com
