No better time for the Cleveland Cavaliers to have their best game in the postseason.
On road against the number one team in the league, Donovan Mitchell flipped the switch in an instant.
Spida Mitchell came alive in the second half and finished with 29 points, as the fourth-seed Cleveland Cavaliers stole one in Boston via a 118-94 Game 2 romp over the top-seed Celtics. They tied up their Eastern Conference semifinal series to one-game apiece.
Cavs win. ¯\_(?)_/¯@kayjewelers | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/xswTJg3ccW
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 10, 2024
The series now moves to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4.
After a six-point first half, Mitchell went to work and scored 23 points in the final two quarters, including this buzzer-beating triple on the left wing in the third to cap off a 90-78 Cavaliers lead.
SPIDA BEATS THE 3Q BUZZER 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2024
He had 16 PTS & 4 3PM in the quarter 💪
Cavs lead 90-78 headed to the 4th quarter on ESPN! https://t.co/VMpMiZc4As pic.twitter.com/7pBe7YoZAF
The multiple-time All-Star also finished with seven rebounds and eight assists on an efficient 10-of-19 shooting as Cleveland outscored Boston, 64-40, in the second half.
Evan Mobley added a playoff career-high of 21 points alongside 10 rebounds and five dimes while Caris LeVert added 21 markers.
Evan Mobley came ready to play 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
11 PTS, 4 AST, 3 REB in the first quarter... Cavs lead by 6 after 1 on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/9y6b6jxDDS
A couple of days after losing by 25 in a Game 1 blowout, the Cavaliers answered back with a blowout win of their own, leading by as many as 29 points, had a +15 advantage in three-pointers made, and outrebounded the Celtics, 54-41.
A collective team effort--which saw six Cleveland players scored in double-digits--made the difference in handing Boston its largest playoff loss of the postseason so far.
Jayson Tatum top scored the Celtics with 25 points, while Jaylen Brown added 19, and Payton Prichard chipped in 13 off the bench.
Tatum snatches it behind the back and splashes the 3 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
2Q action underway on ESPN pic.twitter.com/jRb145VxOw
Derrick White, who averaged nearly 29 points per game in his last three games, was held to just 10 points on a horrendous one-of-eight clip beyond the arc.
The no. 1 team in three-pointers made per game in the playoffs at 16, the Celtics fired blanks all-game long, connecting on just eight of 35 triples attempted for a measly 23 percent clip.
Boston is still without big man Kristaps Porzingis, who missed his third straight game with a strained calf muscle.
Game 3 of the series will be on Sunday, May 12, 8:30 a.m. LIVE on NBA TV Philippines and the Pilipinas Live app.
