“ We are extremely confident, even after Game 1. ” Tonight, Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers had plenty of time to display this confidence. Beaten largely in the first round, the Ohio players returned the favor to the Celtics, winning by 24 points in Boston (94-118)!
The Cavs guard was the key man in this Game 2 which was decided in the second half. After a perfectly balanced first half (54-54), the five-time All-Star decided to come out of his reserve and his clumsiness (6 points at 2/6 on shots after two quarters) to make the difference.
His first “step back” 3-pointer after going to the locker room set the tone and opened up space for a Cavs attack that was much more rhythmic than the one opposite. Well supported by Darius Garland, author of three award-winning baskets in the third quarter, Donovan Mitchell did not forget to serve in the “alley-oop” in transition the man who had carried the Cavs a little earlier, Evan Mobley .
Evan Mobley makes Jarrett Allen forget
Despite his foul concerns, the inside showed fair throughout the evening, and offered himself a career record in the playoffs under the eyes of the man whose absence he must compensate, Jarrett Allen. With its leaders, Cleveland began to flirt with a ten-point lead.
Donovan Mitchell added a little artifice by “crossing” Jayson Tatum before converting at the buzzer a new basket behind the arc on the last possession of the period (78-90). 16 points in this third quarter for the guard who could afford to stop for a few seconds to stare at the Garden public.
The back allowed himself to add a layer a few seconds later, with a 3-point shot converted in the axis… with the board. The symbol of a good evening which would continue because the Celtics, muzzled offensively, were unable to react at all in the following minutes. The gap even climbed to 29 units while Joe Mazzulla sent his reserves a minute before JB Bickerstaff.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– More support for Donovan Mitchell. The guard did not need to shoot 25 times like in the first round. Altruistic in the first period, the leader of the Cavs, who twice missed the 3-point target on airballs (!), stepped up when necessary after the break. Darius Garland accompanied him well, as did Evan Mobley, whose merits he praised after the match. And when the Celtics decided to take it two in the fourth, Max Strus and Caris LeVert took the opportunity to punish thanks to open spaces.
– The Celtics collapse at 3-points. His team already trailing by 22 points in the fourth quarter, Jaylen Brown decided to take the shot in front of Evan Mobley without much conviction and without the ball having moved on the Celtics side. Missed, like his previous shot in the wide open corner. A double failure like the hellish evening experienced by the locals in this area. In the third quarter, Derrick White and the others went off the rails by missing all eight of their attempts. They had to wait a long time before seeing a prize-winning basket come in after the break. The Cavs’ defense, aggressive behind the arc even if it means opening penetration lanes, has a lot to do with it. Clumsy as ever (23%), the Celtics failed for the first time in these playoffs to reach the 10 winning baskets scored.
– Home – away: the end of an expected series. The third round takes place Sunday in Ohio, where the Cavs have not lost since the start of the playoffs. Cleveland won its four games in the first round against the Magic. The Celtics, who also lost Game 2 against the Heat at home, won their two games played in Miami.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
