Jayson Tatum ratings 33 points, Celtics rebound from loss to beat Cavs 106-93 for 2-1 series lead

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, Jaylen Brown included 28 and the Boston Celtics looked more like themselves after stumbling at home, pounding the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-93 on Saturday night in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The top-seeded Celtics didn’t mess around after dropping Game 2 on their home parquet flooring by 24.

That lackluster efficiency — Boston was preferred by double digits — was reminiscent of the veryfirst round, when the Celtics lost Game 2 versus Miami before winning 3 in a row to getridof the Heat.

“We simply desired to bounce back,” stated Tatum, who included 13 rebounds. “Disappointing loss the other night, coming into a hostile environment on the roadway. It was a great test for us to see how we react.”

Tatum scored on a three-point play and the Celtics opened the 2nd half with 14 straight points to take a 23-point lead.

That was method too much for the Cavs, who conquered a 22-point deficit in the 4th quarter to stun Boston in March.

Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points for Cleveland, however the All-Star guard exacerbated a left knee injury in the 4th quarter and was labored. With Boston up 13 and in control, Mitchell left the court with 1: 19 left and strolled straight to the locker space.

Cleveland got within 9 3 times in the 4th however the Celtics, who went simply 8 of 35 on 3-tips in Game 2, got back-to-back 3s from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White to stave off the Cavs’ resurgence.

Game 4 is Monday night in Cleveland.

Down by 23 and notable to stop Tatum, the Cavs clawed back.

They cut Boston’s lead to 15 by the end of the 3rd, and scored the veryfirst 6 points in the 4th, sendingout their towel-waving crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse looking for another distressed into a craze.

But whenever the Celtics required a pail, they went to either Tatum or Brown, who broke down Cleveland’s defense for layups or made difficult, objectedto jumpers.

Evan Mobley included 17 points and Darius Garland and Caris LeVert 15 each for the Cavs, who lost for the veryfirst time at home in these playoffs.

Cleveland was onceagain without beginning center Jarrett Allen, who missedouton his 6th straight videogame with a agonizing rib injury. Allen hasactually been out because Game 4 of the opening-round series versus Orlando and there’s no informing when — or if — he’ll be offered.

Mitchell made 6 3-tips and scored 23 in the veryfirst half to speed the Cavs, however Cleveland didn’t get almost enough from the rest of its beginners or bench as the Celtics opened a 57-48 halftime lead.

After the Celtics were stunned on their home flooring in Game 2 regardlessof being heavy favorites, coach Joe Mazzulla stated the message to his gamers heading into Game 3 was basic.

“Do what you do finest, and do it muchbetter,” he stated.

The Celtics began cold onceagain, missingouton their veryfirst 2 3-guidelines before making 5 of 8 to take a 30-28 lead after one.

Cleveland got a great early lift as forward Dean Wade made his postseason launching after missingouton the past 2 months with a sprained knee. Wade, who scored a career-high 23 versus Boston on March 5 when the Cavs conquered a 22-point deficit in the 4th quarter, knocked down a 3-guideline on his veryfirst touch.

Boston center Kristaps Porzingis missedouton his 4th straight videogame with a calf stress.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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