CLEVELAND — The next test for the Cavaliers was a Tuesday night matchup with the league's clear-cut top team this season on TNT, and they somehow pulled it off without Donovan Mitchell .
Mitchell was ruled out for at least the next three games after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection Monday to treat a left knee bone bruise.
But Dean Wade stepped up and behind a wild fourth quarter comeback, the Cavs erased an 22-point deficit to beat the Celtics in the final moments, 105-104. Wade finished with 23 points and did everything the Cavs needed over the final 12 minutes, including a flurry of 3s and the game-winning, put-back dunk.
The Celtics are cruising to the No. 1 seed in the East with a 48-12 record and an 8-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks , making Tuesday night's game a heavyweight matchup for the Cavs.
The Cavs and Celtics entered Tuesday's matchup coming off of very different games. The Cavs fell to the New York Knicks Sunday night ( but they learned a valuable lesson in the process), while the Celtics just destroyed the Golden State Warriors by more than 50 points. The Celtics won the last meeting 116-107.
Despite the injuries, it could be a playoff preview for two teams heading to toward the postseason in the East.
Check back here for updates throughout the game.
It's the Dean Wade game.
Wade has led the Cavs back after a wild fourth quarter. He finished with 23 points and eight rebounds.
After the Garland foul was overturned, it led to a jumpball with 0.7 seconds left, and the clock was ran out.
Dean Wade cannot be stopped.
After Porzingis completed a 3-point play to give the Celtics a 104-103 lead, Darius Garland missed a layup at the other end. But, of course, Wade showed up to continue his wild fourth quarter.
Wade followed the miss with a put-back dunk to give the Cavs a 105-104 lead with less than 24 seconds remaining.
At the other end, Jayson Tatum attempted a fadeaway with a second left, and missed, but Darius Garland was called for a foul with 0.7 seconds on the clock. That play is being reviewed right now. And it has been overturned. The Cavs are going to win this one.
If the Cavs win this one, it'll be known as the Dead Wade game. The Cavs offense has come alive, and the arena has followed.
After Wade's wild run cut into the Boston lead, Wade found Georges Niang in the corner for a 3 to complete the comeback and tie it 99-99 with just over three minutes to go.
The next time down the floor, it was — of course — Wade who buried a 3 to give the Cavs the lead. It wasn't long ago that the Celtics were cruising to a double-digit lead.
Wade has 21 points, but it feels like 61.
The Cavs needed someone to step up with some offense. That man, in the fourth quarter, has been Dean Wade.
Wade has almost single-handedly brought the Cavs back from an 18-point deficit, and Cleveland now trails just 97-94 with 4:18 to go.
Wade has been on a wild run the past few minutes, hitting a free throw, and then back-to-back 3s. The home crowd just about exploded when the last one was hit to make it a one-possession game.
Wade now has 18 points tonight and five rebounds, and this is all of a sudden a game.
The Cavs, without Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley (exited with a left ankle sprain) are finally on a run and have cut the Boston lead to 97-91 with 4:45 left.
Dean Wade hit one of two free throws and then drilled a 3 the next time down the floor to make it a six-point game.
The Celtics have been crushing just about everybody, and the Cavs are no exception.
With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Celtics are holding onto an 89-71 lead. It has been another night in which the Cavs offense without Donovan Mitchell has lacked some serious punch. Clearly, without Mitchell, the Cavs just haven't had the firepower to keep up with the offensive style that powered their hot streak a few weeks ago, as they're headed to back-to-back games south of 100 points.
In what is undoubtedly the most important update of the night, Moondog ran over to the Kelce brothers with a couple of beers and in true Clevelander fashion, the duo downed them in a few seconds to a standing ovation.
Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley came up hobbling a bit and was in some obvious discomfort with a leg injury. He was quickly taken to the Cavs' locker room to be evaluated.
The Cavs, meanwhile, have climbed back into this oen and now trail 69-65 with 4:49 left in the quarter. Jarrett Allen has a double-double already with 17 points and 10 rebounds, as the Cavs have found some success inside the paint.
It was then announced that Mobley will not return to the game due to a left ankle sprain.
Of course the world champion took the crown, even if it was 3-on-1.
Joey Chestnut, famed for his hot dog eating titles, took on three Cavs fans who were working as a team in a pierogi -eating contest at halftime of Tuesday night's Cavaliers-Celtics game.
Chestnut cruised to the victory (duh) by a score of 39-23 in only a few minutes. Pass the Tums, please.
Jayson Tatum nearly hasn't missed, and the Cavs are struggling to keep up.
Tatum has a game-high 22 and is 5-for-5 from 3-point range. Georges Niang and Dean Wade haven't had the answer for him on the defensive end.
Darius Garland has just seven points, which has limited the Cavs' attack without Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs are shooting just 32.1 percent from the floor in what was an ugly, relatively quiet first half. The loudest ovation of the night has been reserved for Jason Kelce.
Jayson Tatum is taking over this one.
Tatum just buried another 3 to give him a game-high 18, and the Cavs and Celtics aren't yet midway through the second quarter. Without Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs haven't an equalizer thus far.
With 7:41 left in the second quarter, the Cavs trail the Celtics 41-31.
The Celtics have looked every bit like the top team in the league thus far, leading the Cavs 33-25 through the first quarter.
Jayson Tatum, who has a game-high 13 points, drilled a step-back 3-pointer as time expired to extend Boston's lead.
Jarrett Allen has led the Cavs thus far by battling inside the paint with the Celtics bigs. Allen has nine points and four rebounds.
Darius Garland might be responsible for some broken ankles tonight.
Garland was able to create some separation — to put it lightly — as he stepped back for a 3-pointer and watched as Sam Hauser fell to the floor, unable to keep his footing while Garland changed direction.
Garland actually looked surprised to have so much space before he paused and drilled the 3.
The Cavs trail the Celtics 28-20 with 1:09 left in the first quarter.
During the first timeout of Tuesday night's game against the Celtics, the Cavaliers presented Jason Kelce with a framed No. 62 Cavaliers jersey that followed a video tribute to his football career. Kelce, surely a future Hall-of-Famer, just announced his retirement from the NFL.
As for the game, the Celtics have jumped out to a 17-9 lead. Jaylen Tatum has led the way with eight points and three rebounds.
The Celtics aren't as shorthanded as they might have been, with Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis both suiting up tonight.
In other news, the Kelce brothers are sitting courtside. Travis is already going nuts every time the Cavs attempt a 3.
Below is some pregame information.
A few of Cleveland Heights' best will be at the arena for Tuesday night's game against the Celtics.
Travis and Jason Kelce, both NFL stars who grew up in Cleveland Heights, will be celebrated with a tandem bobblehead to be given out before game. The Cavs also have a "Cleveland's Finest" T-Shirt available.
Both are expected to be in attendance. Taylor Swift, though, is in Singapore.
A few Travis Kelce Chiefs jerseys have already been spotted around the arena.
Mitchell is out Tuesday night with a bone bruise in his left knee. Guard Caris LeVert is questionable with a sprained right elbow but is expected to play. Ty Jerome remains out after undergoing ankle surgery.
For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown (knee contusion) and Kristaps Porzingis (quad contusion) are both questionable. JD Davison , Drew Peterson , Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh are all out.
The Celtics-Cavs game has a national TV audience on TNT . The matchup will be broadcast on the radio via WTAM (1100-AM), WMMS (100.7-FM) and WNZN (89.1-FM).
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs vs Celtics game score and updates, Mitchell out for Cavaliers
