Just five days after facing off at the TD Garden in Bostonin a memorable thriller, marked in particular by the 41 points of Donovan Mitchell and Caris Levert, Cleveland and Boston were already meeting, but in Ohio this time. Like last Friday, the match was also decided after extra time and, like last Friday, these are the Riders who emerged victorious (114-113).
Boosted by the solid performance of the revenant Darius Garland (29 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals), but also that of a Donovan Mitchell (25 points, 6 assists) inspired in hot moments, the Cavs thus confirm their excellent start to the season, against the reigning NBA finalists, led by Jaylen Brown (30 points, 8 rebounds) and Jayson Tatum (26 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Darius Garland is fine, thanks for him. Touched in the eye and absent since the first game of the season, the All-Star leader found (finally) the floors this night. A weight reinforcement for the Cavaliers, who certainly turned very well without him, but who did not take very long to remember why he was vital to them. Altruistic, to water his interiors with balloons, “DG” also distinguished himself in scoring, where his address at 3-pts (5/11) notably blasted the defense of the Celtics. And, this, from the first quarter, where he planted the trifle of 14 points, to launch Cleveland ideally in this part.
— Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum feasted in the “clutch”. Not necessarily authors of their best match of the season, “Spida” Mitchell and “Taco Jay” nevertheless held their rank in the money time of the fourth quarter. Aligning the successes at 3-pts, near the circle and halfway, the back of the Cavaliers pulled out all the stops and believed in giving the victory to his team. It was without counting on the Celtics winger, who answered him with in particular a layupa huge poster on Jarrett Allen to equalize then a counter at the last second, on his comrade from the 2017 Draft, to snatch the extension.
— Second summit in five days. Decidedly, the games between Cleveland and Boston are worth seeing this season. Like Friday, it took extra time to decide between them and, like Friday, the level of play sometimes reached new heights. Everything was obviously not perfect, especially in the success at 3-pts or in decision-making, but the two teams at least had the merit of offering meetings filled with suspense for observers and their fans. We would ask for seven more of this kind, next spring…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jaylen Brown. Before Jayson Tatum relieved him in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, the other Boston All-Star was the Celtics’ strongman for three and a half quarters, before dropping his foot and losing in address, because probably out of breath. Aggressive towards the circle, able to sanction if necessary from the 3-pt line and threatening at mid-range, “JB” made “JB” and he is the one who gave the C’s hope to leave Ohio with victory, until extra time.
✅ The Mobley/Allen pair. If Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are obviously the technical leaders of this Cavaliers team, the fact remains that the Evan Mobley racket (15 points, 7 rebounds) – Jarrett Allen (14 points, 14 rebounds) is just as fundamental in the success of Cleveland. Faced with the Celtics rather reduced under the panels, the two interiors of the Cavs thus took advantage of the caviars of their backcourt to convert them and bring easy dots in the painting. As a bonus, stabilizing the local defense as best as possible, in the second curtain.
✅ The Brogdon/Williams duo. Off the bench, Malcolm Brogdon (15 points) and Grant Williams (11 points, 7 rebounds) did the job, to allow the Celtics to win the battle for replacements. Regularly associated at the same time, they had a positive influence on Boston’s game at (almost) each of their coming into play. And this, on each side of the floor, when Derrick White, Marcus Smart or Al Horford sometimes had hard to show off.
⛔ The Cleveland Bench. If JB Bickerstaff had to shoot the organizations of his incumbents, it is largely because his replacements did not bring him satisfaction. From Kevin Love to Dean Wade, passing by Isaac Okoro, Robin Lopez or Cedi Osman, the rotations of the Cavaliers have torn apart, accumulating a total of 16 points, but only 5/22 on shots, including 0/11 at 3- pts. Far too little, when you know that Malcolm Brogdon or Grant Williams were for example in a good evening, opposite.
THE FOLLOWING
Cleveland (6-1) : trip to Detroit, on the night of Friday to Saturday (00:00).
Boston (4-3) : Chicago reception, Friday night to Saturday (12:30 a.m.).
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