Cavs score vs. Celtics | Cleveland rebounds from back-to-back losses with dramatic win

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Cavs score vs. Celtics | Cleveland rebounds from back-to-back losses with dramatic win

Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Mon, Dec 2, 2024 ·

9 min read

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CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers grew accustomed to streaking in a positive manner when they won their first 15 games this season , but they were left scrambling Sunday night to stop the proverbial bleeding after suffering back-to-back losses to the Atlanta Hawks .

Well, the Cavs stepped up amid adversity. They avoided a three-game losing streak with a 115-111 victory over their primary playoff nemesis, the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics . Last season, the Celtics eliminated the Cavs from the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 4-1 series triumph in May. In the first meeting between the two teams this season, the Cavs lost 120-117 at Boston , ending their 15-game winning streak.

Here's how our updates for Cavs (18-3) versus Celtics (16-4) unfolded throughout the game :

Lane violation costs Boston, and Donovan Mitchell makes free throws to seal Cavs' 115-111 win over Celtics

With the Celtics behind 113-110, Cavs forward Evan Mobley fouled point guard Payton Pritchard to send him to the free-throw line. Pritchard made the first foul shot to cut Cleveland's lead to 113-111 with 5 seconds left and intentionally missed the second. But Pritchard crossed the free-throw line too soon and thereby committed a lane violation.

Mobley then threw an inbounds pass to Mitchell. After Mitchell took a foul, he made two foul shots to give the Cavs a 115-111 cushion with 4.3 seconds left. The Cavs won by the same score.

Mitchell scored 20 of his game-high 35 points in the fourth quarter. He went 6-of-6 shooting from the floor (4 of 4 on 3-pointers) in the fourth quarter. Point guard Darius Garland tallied 22 points and eight assists for the Cavs, and guard Caris LeVert and forward Georges Niang added 13 points apiece off Cleveland's bench.

Small forward Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points to go along with eight rebounds. Pritchard finished with 24 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Center Kristaps Porzingis compiled 21 points and eight rebounds.

Cavaliers guards Darius Garland (10) and Donovan Mitchell celebrate a win over the Boston Celtics, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cleveland.

Cavs lead Celtics 113-110 with 5.7 seconds left

The game became a free-throw shooting contest by design down the stretch.

Mitchell and Garland combined to make eight foul shots in the final 21.8 seconds. Niang caught a lob inbounds pass from Mobley, took a foul and then made two free throws to give the Cavs a 113-110 edge with 5.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell reacts in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cleveland.

Cavs lead Celtics 105-103 with 26.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter

Mitchell caught fire for the Cavs in the fourth quarter and tied the score 101-101 by draining a 3-pointer with 1:40 left.

After Tatum missed consecutive shots, including a layup, Mitchell found small forward Isaac Okoro in the paint, and Okoro assisted on a dunk by Mobley, giving the Cavs a 105-101 advantage with 34 seconds remaining.

Mobley fouled Porzingis, and the Celtics center answered by making two free throws. The Cavs led 105-103 with 26.2 seconds left, when Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson used a timeout.

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell celebrates his fourth-quarter 3-pointer against the Boston Celtics, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cleveland.

Cleveland Cavs cut deficit to 97-95 vs. Boston Celtics with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter

The Cavs battled back. They trailed the Celtics 97-95 during a Boston timeout with 3:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell made a stepback 3-pointer against fellow guard Sam Hauser to trim the Cavs' deficit to two points with 3:13 left and compel the Celtics to use a timeout.

Cavs trail Celtics 93-84 with 6:56 left in the fourth quarter

After the Celtics led the Cavs 84-72 at the end of the third quarter, Cleveland trailed by nine points with 6:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Pritchard scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field in the first half of the fourth quarter and has 14 at this juncture, helping Boston put Cleveland in a 93-84 hole.

The game changed drastically in the third quarter, when the Celtics went 7-of-13 shooting from 3-point range (53.8%) and outscored the Cavs 35-21. Cleveland needs a serious rally to avoid its third consecutive loss.

Jayson Tatum takes over, Celtics lead Cavs by double digits entering fourth quarter

Tatum has, in fact, taken this game over.

The Celtics have been able to get Tatum switched onto a more advantageous matchup, and he's nearly scored at will and now has a game-high 29 points with an entire quarter remaining.

Cavs guard Sam Merrill at one point was able to force a shot-clock violation via a Tatum airball with some physical defense. He received a standing ovation, as it's one of the only successful defensive plays against Tatum tonight.

While Tatum feasted, the Cavaliers offense fell flat. Cleveland is now shooting 42 percent from the floor, and they're losing the turnover battle 13-7.

Boston Celtics forward Drew Peterson defends Cavaliers guard Darius Garland in the third quarter, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cleveland.

Jayson Tatum leads Celtics; Boston leads Cavs in third quarter

Tatum now has a game-high 22 points, and the Celtics have opened up a 70-63 lead midway through the third quarter.

Tatum squared up Garland and was able to find some separation with a little physicality, which led to an easy jumper.

Tatum has the ability to take over games and he's on his way to doing that tonight without Jaylen Brown or Derrick White on the floor (see the injury report below).

Who's winning the Cavaliers-Celtics game?

The Cavs will take a 51-49 lead into halftime.

Garland has had the hot hand, scoring a game-high 15 points, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, along with three rebounds and three assists. Niang has 11 points off the bench. Cleveland has shot 8-of-21 from 3-point range.

Porzingis and Tatum lead the Celtics with 12 points a piece.

Cavaliers forward Georges Niang celebrates his second-quarter 3-pointer against the Boston Celtics, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cleveland.

Celtics, Cavaliers score update: Boston comes back to take lead late in second quarter over Cleveland

The Celtics have stormed back and now lead 45-44 with 3:28 left in the second quarter.

Porzingis and Tatum both have a team-high 12 points to lead Boston's rally. The Celtics have already hit eight 3s.

Cavaliers, Celtics score: Cleveland extends lead to double digits over Boston in second quarter

The Cavs are being the aggressors in the second quarter, and Cleveland now has an 11-point lead, 38-27, with eight minutes left in the half.

Niang just buried a 3 after some nifty dribbling from Donovan Mitchell, in which the Cavs guard maneuvered past two Celtics defenders before finding Niang open in the corner. Niang already has 11 points.

Cavs lead Celtics 28-24 at the end of the first quarter

The Cavs captured a 28-24 advantage against the Celtics through one quarter.

Garland led the Cavs with six points in the first quarter. Porzingis paced the Celtics with nine points through the opening quarter.

The Cavs went 11-of-25 shooting (44.4%) from the field (5 of 12 on 3-pointers) in the first quarter. The Celtics went 9-of-25 shooting (36%) from the floor (4 of 14 on 3s).

Cavs lead Celtics 24-22 with 3 minutes left in the first quarter

Garland lost defensive positioning against Pritchard, and Boston gained its first lead of the game. Impressive ballhandling allowed Pritchard to create separation and nail a stepback 3-pointer to give the Celtics a one-point advantage with 3:42 left in the first quarter.

However, Garland assisted on a 3-pointer by Niang, and the Cavs went ahead 24-22 with 3 minutes remaining.

Cavs jump out to 8-0 lead vs. Celtics and hold 15-13 advantage with 5:36 left in the first quarter

The Cavs began the game by seizing an 8-0 lead against the Celtics, with center Jarrett Allen scoring half of those points. Allen finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. Mobley had nine points and 10 rebounds.

The Celtics countered when Porzingis and Tatum made 3-pointers to cut the Cavs' advantage to 8-6.

A three-point play by Mitchell extended Cleveland's lead to 11-6, but forward Al Horford sank a 3-pointer to answer and make it 11-9 in favor of Cleveland.

Porzingis made a jump shot with 5:36 remaining in the opening quarter, and the Cavs responded with a timeout. They led 15-13 with 5:36 left.

Defending the 3-pointer has been a glaring issue for Cleveland as of late. Boston made three of its first eight 3-pointers (37.5%).

Here is some pregame information:

What is the history between the Cleveland Cavs and Boston Celtics?

The Cavs are 87-140 in their all-time regular-season series against the Celtics.

Last season, the Cavs went 1-2 against the Celtics in the regular season and 1-4 against them in the playoffs.

And the Cavs lost their first matchup against the Celtics this season.

What is the injury report for Cavs vs. Celtics?

The Cavs have ruled out forwards Dean Wade (sprained left ankle) and Max Strus (sprained right ankle).

The Celtics have ruled out forward Jaylen Brown (non-Covid-19 illness) and guard Derrick White (sprained right foot). The following Celtics players are available to face the Cavs: guard Jrue Holiday (right adductor tightness), forward Al Horford (sprained left big toe) and center Kristaps Porzingis (left posterior tibialis tendon).

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Have the Cleveland Cavaliers been eliminated from the NBA Cup?

The Cavs were eliminated from Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round contention on Friday by falling 117-101 at Atlanta.

The Cavs are 1-2 in Cup games. They beat the Chicago Bulls 144-126 on Nov. 15 before losing at Boston and at Atlanta. The Cavs have one Cup game left Tuesday against Washington. But again, the Cavs won't advance to the Knockout Rounds .

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How can I watch, listen, stream Cavs vs. Celtics game?

Sunday's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network and nationally on NBA TV. It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs game score vs Celtics updates, highlights, analysis

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