Established, Grant Williams does not allow two open shots in a row behind the 3-point line, and he puts the Celtics on the right track. The Cavaliers are not focused on defense, and Jayson Tatum’s gang do whatever they want during the opening minutes of the game.
Ricky Rubio steps in to tidy up the Cleveland house, and the effect is felt immediately. With the help of Darius Garland (18 points at the break), the locals turn their heads right side up, but Dennis Schroder, unstoppable on his side (19 points), allows the Celtics to keep their hand in the middle. time (52-38).
The visitors do not take their foot off the accelerator, and Jayson Tatum shows the tip of his nose after a rather discreet first period. In the absence of Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, the Olympic champion put his shots and the gap reached 19 points three minutes from the end of the third quarter.
Cleveland is looking for solutions, and it is the Euro duo Rubio-Osman who wakes up the whole room. In their wake, the Cavaliers sign a 24-4 while Evan Mobley sticks two big tarps on Dennis Schroder. The defense of Cleveland is remarkable and at the entrance of the “money time”, the visitors panic (76-76).
Evan Mobley continues his crazy work in painting, and we are witnessing the last few minutes of madness with seven ties and five changes of leaders …
Finally, it is Darius Garland, after two successful free throws, who gives the hand to the Cavaliers (91-89). The last ball is for Schroder. He misses and Cleveland wins its 6th game of its last seven outings.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Nine points in the first quarter for the Cavaliers. 3/20 on shots, but also 6 lost balls… The first quarter was catastrophic for Cleveland. Garland’s teammates have never scored so few points this season in a start to the match. The 38 points at halftime are also their smallest.
– The Williams are the pair. The two won’t turn the crowds up with their more creative crossovers and actions, but their impact in defense is one of the reasons for the Celtics’ better form since a few games in Ime Udoka version. With the marking of Evan Mobley for the first, and of Jarrett Allen for the second, the two managed to keep the interiors “under bell” (8 points accumulated in the first period) and the Cavs to 38 points after the first 24 minutes of Game.
The absences. About ten matches played and already many absent. In Cleveland, they miss Kevin Love, Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen. In Boston, Al Horford and Josh Richardson joined Jaylen Brown in the infirmary.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Evan Mobley. It didn’t take long for the rookie to establish himself as one of Cleveland’s game changers. Complete in defense (3 blocks, 2 interceptions), and fair in attack (19 points to 8/13 on shots), he was important in the money time, by his agreement with Ricky Rubio and his stature in painting.
✅ Darius Garland. The moped still has to “clean up” some aspects of its game but it can be untenable in attack. The variety of his game makes him very difficult to follow by the opposing defense, and his ardor allowed to limit the damage in the first period (18 units at the break). He also converts the two free throws to the win!
⛔ Jayson Tatum. Despite his 21 points (8/22 on shots…), Jayson Tatum was on alternating current, and transparent in defense. Angry much of the meeting, the Boston superstar had a few good minutes in the third quarter, then not much more. His 6 lost balloons are working. Very poor copy for the Team USA winger.
⛔ The Boston bench. Only 15 points for Juancho Hernangomez and company, who failed to bring an additional spark to their team in the absence of several executives. The second knives did not score points in the eyes of their coach.
BEST START
Third in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers have their best start to the season in five years.
THE FOLLOWING
Boston (6-7) and Cleveland (9-5) clash again on Monday. Same room, same time.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
