The Cleveland Cavaliers asserted their dominance in Game 2 of the NBA playoffs with a convincing 118-94 victory over the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden.
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Cavs take advantage of Celtics meltdown
The win marked the Cavaliers’ first road victory of the playoffs, leveling the series at 1-1 as both teams head into Game 3 in Cleveland on Saturday.
Despite a slow start that saw them trailing by nine points in the first quarter, the Cavaliers quickly turned the tide with an impressive 11-0 run led by Evan Mobley’s stellar performance.
Mobley, alongside contributions from Caris LeVert off the bench, propelled Cleveland to a 30-24 lead at the end of the opening quarter, effectively silencing the home crowd.
However, the Celtics fought back in the second quarter, capitalizing on Mobley and LeVert’s cooling off to orchestrate a 19-3 run, resulting in a halftime tie of 54-54.
Jayson Tatum led the charge for the Celtics in the first half, but his efforts were not enough to stave off the Cavaliers’ resurgence.
The second half belonged to the Cavaliers, who outscored the Celtics 64-40, effectively taking control of the game.
Donovan Mitchell, despite a slow start, came alive in the second half, scoring 16 of his 29 points in the third quarter alone.
Mobley, despite encountering foul trouble, finished with an impressive stat line of 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
3-point shooting, the determining factor in Cavs win
One of the key factors in the Cavaliers’ victory was their improved three-point shooting.
Cleveland shot an impressive 46 percent from behind the arc, with Mitchell and Darius Garland leading the charge.
In contrast, the Celtics struggled from long range, shooting a dismal 23 percent on their three-point attempts.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will need Jayson Tatum to rediscover his shooting touch if they hope to regain control of the series.
Despite his all-around contributions, Tatum’s shooting struggles have hampered Boston’s offensive efficiency, making it challenging for them to secure victories.
The Cavaliers’ dominant display in Game 2 has injected new life into the series, setting the stage for an exciting matchup in Game 3.
With both teams hungry for victory, fans can expect another thrilling showdown as the series now heads to Cleveland.
