The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers confirmed what NBA basketball seems like at its finest on Friday night time, as the 2 high groups within the East offered an exhilarating potential convention finals preview at TD Backyard. This didn’t at all times appear to be an instantaneous traditional: 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 initially of the sport. The Celtics instantly pressured 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—- residence.”
Tatum had cause to be feeling himself with a 25-3 lead in the intervening time. Just one downside: there was nonetheless 41 minutes left within the sport. 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 street win over the reigning champions. Cleveland out-score Boston 120-91 after Tatum instructed the Cavs to ‘go the f—- residence.’
Tatum was spectacular on the night time, ending with 46 factors, 16 rebounds, 9 assists, and three blocks on 19-of-37 capturing from the ground. The Celtics famous person was purple scorching 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 provide the Celtics one final probability late within the fourth quarter, he got here up approach, approach brief:
The Cavs had been purple scorching after their gradual begin. Cleveland ripped 17-of-39 three-pointers (43.6 %) and did an ideal job limiting turnovers (solely seven on the night time). Donovan Mitchell matched Tatum blow-for-blow to complete with 41 factors on 13-of-26 capturing. Mitchell was persistently attending to the foul line on Boston’s residence ground. None of Boston’s staff of unbelievable defenders may keep in entrance of him.
What a comeback from the Cavs. Watch the way in which they erased Boston’s huge first quarter lead right here:
We want a Cavs-Celtics Jap Convention Finals collection so badly. This was elite hoops.
