The Cleveland Cavaliers stunned the Boston Celtics and the TD Garden crowd with a commanding 118-94 victory in Game 2 of their second-round Eastern Conference series, finally securing their first road win of the NBA playoffs. With the series now tied at 1-1, anticipation builds for Saturday’s Game 3 in Cleveland.
Despite a slow start from Donovan Mitchell, who only scored six points in the first half after averaging 39 points in the previous three playoff games, the Cavs found their rhythm in the second half. Mitchell exploded for 16 points in the third quarter and finished with 29 points overall, leading Cleveland’s dominant performance.
Cleveland seized control after halftime, outscoring the Celtics 64-40 and forcing Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla to concede defeat by substituting most of his bench players into the game. Evan Mobley’s early contributions, including an 11-0 run in the first quarter, propelled the Cavs to a 30-24 lead, silencing the home crowd.
While Boston rallied in the second quarter, led by Jayson Tatum’s 16 first-half points, Cleveland maintained their composure. Despite Mobley facing foul trouble, he delivered a solid performance with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, supported by Caris LeVert’s impactful contributions off the bench with 21 points.
The Cavaliers showcased their improved 3-point shooting, hitting 46 percent from behind the arc, a significant breakthrough for a team that struggled with outside shooting in previous playoff games. In contrast, the Celtics struggled with their shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, shooting a dismal 23 percent on 3-point attempts.
As the series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3, both teams face injury concerns, with Jarrett Allen sidelined for the Cavs and Kristaps Porzingis absent for the Celtics. With momentum on their side, the Cavaliers look to capitalize on their home-court advantage as they aim to take the lead in the series.
