No rust for the well-rested and NBA-best Boston Celtics.
Jaylen Brown poured a team-high 32 points, while Derrick White added 25, as the Celtics jumpstarted their Eastern Conference semifinals series over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 120-95 Game 1 rout.
Brown tallied his second 30-point game in this playoffs, picking the Cavaliers’ defense apart all-game long while shooting an ultra-efficient 12-of-18 from the field, including four-of-six beyond the arc.Jaylen Brown and Derrick White lead the way as the @celtics jump out to a 1-0 series lead! ??
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2024
JB: 32 PTS (12-18 FGM), 4 3PM, 6 REB
D-White: 25 PTS, 7 3PM, 5 AST#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/qdlqseDCk7
White continued his fine play, collecting his third straight 25+point game in this year’s postseason built on seven triples, one shy of tying his playoff-high eight treys made in the previous round against the Miami Heat.JB 3 FOR 32 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2024
Extends Boston's 4Q lead on TNT ?? pic.twitter.com/fUxetX38oe
Jayson Tatum added 18 while Payton Prichard contributed 16 off the bench and Jrue Holiday chipped in 14.Make that 7 triples!
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2024
White (25 PTS) stops on a dime for the TOUGH step-back 👀 https://t.co/YGF9BbR5W2 pic.twitter.com/gctamznVB7
The Celtics banked on yet another sizzling shooting beyond the arc and cruised to another dominating series opener, drilling 18 triples and connecting on 49 percent shooting from the field.Payton Pritchard loses the defender to put the finishing touches on a Celtics Game 1 W ?? pic.twitter.com/4RtVqWZAsj
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2024
Boston raced to a 40-34 in the opening frame and never looked back, leading by as many 32 points and outrebounded the Cavaliers missing center Jarret Allen (bruised rib injury), 60-45.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell led the way for Cleveland with 33 points, including 17 alone in the third frame, but wasn't enough to overcome a well-oiled Celtics machine in their home.
After a 39-point Game 7 outing just a couple of days ago, Mitchell dropped his third straight 30-point game, and became the fourth player in league history to score 30 or more points in six straight playoff series openers, joining Michael Jordan (three times), Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain.Sheeeesh, Don. 😳@spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/CQgRMbeIjg
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 8, 2024
Evan Mobley added a double-double of 17 markers and 11 rebounds, with Darius Garland collecting 15 and Isaac Okoro had 11.
Game 2 is on May 10, Friday, 7 a.m. Philippine time. It will be aired LIVE on NBA TV Philippines and the Pilipinas Live app.
