Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) — Payton Pritchard scored a season-high 42 points on Sunday, Jaylen Brown had his fourth career triple-double and the Boston Celtics barely managed to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-115 on the night after blowing most of their big lead.
The Celtics led by 21 points in the third quarter and were still up by 11 with less than two minutes remaining before Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell hit consecutive 3-pointers to pull the Cavs within 114-112 with 20.5 seconds left.
Pritchard, who scored several big baskets in the final moments, then made two free throws to put Boston ahead 116-112 with 5.9 seconds left.
Cavs guard Darius Garland hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left, and Cleveland fouled Brown on the ensuing inbound pass after a timeout. Boston’s All-Star guard was only able to make one of two free throws, giving the Cavs one last chance.
But Evan Mobley’s shot was short in the final second, allowing the Celtics to escape with the victory.
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