They were coming off a 52-point victory over Golden State (140-88). So by showing up in Cleveland, leading by twenty-two points in the last quarter (93-71, 39th), Boston, leader of the NBA (48-13), seemed almost invincible. All of Massachusetts therefore held its breath and cursed when Dean Wade took off, completely neglected by the Celtics defense, to snatch the offensive rebound and slam the winning dunk 19 seconds from the buzzer (105-104).
Wade, the unlikely hero
After eleven victories in a row (longest series of the season for an NBA team), Boston had just fallen for the first time since February 1 against the LA Lakers (105-114). A mixture of fatigue, complacency and relaxation. As well as because of the interior of the Cavaliers, who sounded the charge during a last quarter which will remain as the best of his career, since Dean Wade, who is averaging 5.1 points this season, scored 20 of his 23 points in the final period of the match (career record), more than all the visitors (34-17 for Cleveland in the last quarter).
Travis Kelce was in the room
Boston did have a final opportunity, a foul being called on a mid-range shot from Jayson Tatum (26 points) with 1 second to go. Challenged by Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff, the decision was reversed after viewing by the referees, validating Cleveland’s success, provoking an explosion of joy from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, under the loving gaze of Ohio native Travis Kelce – and of his brother Jason -, very media companion of Taylor Swift and winner of the recent Super Bowl with Kansas City.
“The hoop looked like a swimming pool,” imagined the hero of the evening, author of five 3-point shots in the last twelve minutes, well supported by Jarrett Allen (21 points, 12 rebounds) and Darius Garland (16 points, 11 assists) in the absence of local superstar Donovan Mitchell, who suffered a knee injury. Evan Mobley, one of the team’s other leaders, missed the last quarter after leaving his team in the third period (ankle). “Travis Kelce made me an offer,” laughed Wade, who grew up in Kansas and was a Chiefs fan, afterwards. He told me that if basketball didn’t work out for me, I could join them! »
2024-03-06 07:00:46
#Cleveland #ends #Bostons #elevengame #winning #streak
