Celtics

Jayson Tatum overcame a slow start to score 41 points as the Boston Celtics beat the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 117-113 on Wednesday.

The Cavaliers prevailed 132-123 in Boston on Oct. 28, and 114-113 in Cleveland on Nov. Tatum had two points after the first quarter, but heated up for 15 in the second and 18 in the third. Boston’s advantage peaked at 21 points, 89-68, following a layup by Robert Williams III with 2:32 remaining in the third. Al Horford added 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics. He hit another trey to cut the deficit to four points with 12.3 seconds on the clock, but that basket capped the scoring.

Wednesday night the Cavaliers traveled to Boston to take on the Celtics—a nationally televised game between the second and fourth Eastern Conference seeds.

[Learn more about our streaming options here.](https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/the-news-5-user-guide-how-to-use-news-5-every-day-to-stay-informed) [Download the News 5 Cleveland app](https://www.news5cleveland.com/about-us/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-news-5-app) now for more stories from us, plus alerts on major news, the latest weather forecast, traffic information and much more. [Roku,](https://www.rokuguide.com/channels/newschannel5) [Apple TV,](https://www.apple.com/tv/) [Amazon Fire TV,](https://www.amazon.com/Scripps-Media-Inc-News-Cleveland/dp/B07796DV1D) YouTube TV, DIRECTV NOW, Hulu Live and more. Mitchell really wanted the win as he could be heard throughout the night, encouraging his teammates and making big plays. Download now on your [Apple device here](https://go.skimresources.com/?id=88890X1542025&xs=1&isjs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fid487296004%3Fign-mpt%3Duo%253D8&xguid=01D7J65X5EXAXEF3QBFB8R1TP6&xuuid=ddb689af5189547a572a5c32945be0ab&xsessid=&xcreo=0&xed=0&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news5cleveland.com%2Fabout-us%2Feverything-you-need-to-know-about-the-news-5-app&xtz=240&jv=13.18.0-stackpath&bv=2.5.1), and your [Android device here.](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mylocaltv.wews&hl=en) A mic’d up Donovan Mitchell dropped 44 points, five assists, and four rebounds. We're also on [Amazon Alexa](https://www.amazon.com/Scripps-Media-Inc-News-Cleveland/dp/B06WRPH9WB/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-skills&ie=UTF8&qid=1531506359&sr=1-1&keywords=news+5+cleveland) devices. But since the Cavs waited until the very last seconds to attempt to come back, the Celtics held on and got the 117-113 win. Down to the last two minutes, the Cavs woke up a little and actually started treating the game as a playoff game. "They're a really good basketball team and credit to our guys for continuing to fight and get back," said J.B Bickerstaff. — Wednesday night the Cavaliers traveled to Boston to take on the Celtics—a nationally televised game between the second and fourth Eastern Conference seeds. Darius Garland scored a layup and two 3-pointers back-to-back around the one-minute mark.

The Celtics avenged two early season losses to the Cavaliers on Wednesday, claiming a 117-113 victory as Jayson Tatum scored 41 points.

The challenge wiped away possession for the Cavaliers and a foul on Smart, and on the ensuing possession, Tatum buried a 3-pointer to push the lead back up to 16. The Celtics started the third quarter on an important 7-0 run which dug the Cavaliers a double-digit deficit they tried to climb out of for the rest of the night. “When we’re healthy, just finding small ways to get a different lineup to just create a different rhythm, change his matchups when he’s out there on the offensive end,” Mazzulla said. And so they played, because of their sub pattern, we went with a bigger, we were able to stay in 13 a little bit more and not switch that second unit, which is big for us.” “So I think the focus is just being healthy, taking care of your body, and just coming out and playing games. “Yeah, starting to play some more minutes, get a little more conditioning under me,” Williams said. “The organization, Brad, sometimes wants me to play a little bit less, so we have conversations,” Tatum said. “He’s constantly trying to find small ways to reinvent his game,” Joe Mazzulla said. Al Horford had one of his best games of the season, shooting 8-for-10 from the field and 6-for-8 from behind the arc. Tatum admitted that he understands and respects the sports science statistics which suggest he needs to rest, but he wants to play too much to sit out. Just came here with a mindset trying to find a way to win.” It also made the Cavaliers foul, which gave Tatum a chance to make a pair of free throws after a 1-for-2 trip to the line prior left him stuck at 39.

“Robert Williams III was the fifth starter for much of last year, but this smaller lineup with Derrick White brings even more switchability and playmaking,” he ...

Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell continued his impressive form with 44 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Boston's Jayson Tatum.

But for now, they can celebrate a hard-fought win over a tough opponent in the Cleveland Cavaliers. [who](https://www.hindustantimes.com/topic/who) broke out of his slump to score 41 points, grab 11 rebounds, and dish out 8 assists. Boston was seeking to avenge their two overtime losses to the Cavs earlier in the season, and they did just that in a hard-fought game.

Jayson Tatum scored 18 points in a pivotal third quarter and finished with 41 points.

... The Cavs scored 30 points in the paint in the first half. … Went 6 of 7 from the 3-point line in the third quarter. … Marcus Smart had three steals in the first half. Boston was able to close it out at the foul line. … Garland had 12 points, six assists and two steals in the first half. "There was no coming out of the game for me," Mitchell said. Spurred by pleas from Smart and the entire Celtics bench, coach Joe Mazzulla challenged the call. "He knew once he came out it would stiffen up on him, make it difficult for him to come back in. So I'm just trying to enjoy the moment and stay present." Mitchell's scary moment came with under six minutes left in the third quarter. "I guess I never really take time to think about where I'm at or the things I've accomplished," Tatum said. Yet he isn't where he wants to be.

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 18 points in a pivotal third quarter and finished with 41 points as the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Cavaliers ...

Al Horford added 23 points and 11 rebounds for Boston. It helped Tatum outduel fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who scored 44 points and sidestepped an injury following a fall in the third quarter. Tatum added 11 rebounds and eight assists as Boston earned its first victory in three games versus Cleveland this season.

Al Horford knocked down a career-high six threes Wednesday night and is second on the team in 3-point shooting percentage.

I knew that I had to continue to evolve as a player and grow and shoot the 3-ball more. “He’s constantly trying to find small ways to reinvent his game,” Mazzulla said. The Celtics grabbed five more rebounds than the Cavaliers did, which was key during such a close win. Horford tied Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams III for a team-high 11 rebounds. The second time they tried to switch him, he created an advantage.” And so we ran that ATO for him and he recognized the coverage [the Cavaliers] were in and popped and shot it.

The big man's hot streak continued in the Celtics' win over the Cavaliers, but his impact stretches far beyond the hardwood.

“He’s been doing this the longest, and he’s the ultimate team guy. And on a team competing for a title, having a player like him is a game-changer. But the Celtics stuck to their ways, and Horford was a big reason for their success against the Cavaliers. It’s something that, to what I said earlier in the year, I knew that I had to continue to evolve as a player and grow and be able to shoot more [of] the three-ball. “It’s massive,” Mazzulla said of what Horford brings to the table. The second time, they tried to switch it, and he created an advantage. So, it was just one loss, and we felt like it was important, with the week that we have, that we responded here at home. Having that sort of floor-spacing at the big man position allows Boston to play the five-out, three-point heavy offense that Joe Mazzulla loves. With Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Boston’s three-headed point guard group initiating the offense, Horford has been living behind the three-point line. They eked out a win over the [Indiana Pacers](https://www.indycornrows.com/), barely scraped by against the [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.libertyballers.com/), and suffered a 15-point loss to the [New York Knicks](https://www.postingandtoasting.com/). “Like before that [loss to the Knicks], we won a really tough game in Philly and beat a team that plays well in Indiana coming out of the break. Jayson Tatum stole the show with his bounce back 41-point performance, but Horford continued his dominance as well, helping the Celtics get back on track.

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum scored 18 points in a pivotal third quarter and finished with 41 points as the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers ...

Boston was able to close it out at the foul line. The teams entered Wednesday’s matchup healthy, making for a high energy start. Spurred by pleas from Smart and the entire Celtics’ bench, Coach Joe Mazzulla challenged the call. He stayed in the game when play resumed, scoring Cleveland’s next 10 points and 19 in the quarter. Mitchell’s scary moment came with under six minutes left in the third quarter. Tatum added 11 rebounds and eight assists as Boston earned its first victory in three games versus Cleveland this season.

Oftentimes when the Celtics found Al Horford open beyond the 3-point line, Horford would make the shot, playing a prominent role in Boston's 117-113 win ...

[](https://nnn.ng/hausa/#=good morning in hausa) [](https://nnn.ng/i/#=ip shortner) [For Horford](https://nnn.ng/al-horford-evolving-as-a-versatile-weapon-the-ultimate-team-guy/#For Horford) [Foreign](https://nnn.ng/foreign/)

We've talked a lot about the Celtics using Rob Williams' improved screening to get free. Tatum rejects the screen from Mike Muscala where he would have been ...

That allows Tatum to get Isaac Okoro on his hip for the and-1: If they want to keep pace with the It starts with the patience to work the two-man game with Williams. In this one, Mazzulla cited matchups as the reason he went with Muscala over Grant Williams. As he draws the entire Cavs defense, Tatum delivers the terrific hook pass to Al Horford in the corner: When you are on a hot streak like Jayson Tatum was, the last thing you want is halftime. Just before this clip starts, Marcus Smart had pressured Evan Mobley in the backcourt before recovering to Darius Garland. It’s fair to point out that things got a little messy in the last few minutes of this game. Tatum rejects the screen from Mike Muscala where he would have been going to his shooting hand. This is a good way to do it: Then he followed that up with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the third quarter. [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.libertyballers.com), but the Celtics haven’t really struggled with them for a while now.

Grant Williams was a healthy scratch against the Cavs. Here's what Joe Mazzulla, Robert Williams III, and Jaylen Brown had to say.

Grant has helped us get to the Finals last year. He’s averaging 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting just over 40 percent from three. Williams notched a season-high 48 minutes during an overtime loss to Milwaukee last month, where his ability to defend Giannis Antetokounmpo is a noted plus. He’s been able to carve value out in this league, so a couple games here and there based upon whatever the coaching staff thinks doesn’t mean any more or less. The exception was against Philadelphia, when he played 29 minutes. “When Mike was in, we were able to play a different defensive lineup.

Al Horford's stint with the Thunder was a crucial stop in helping him age like fine wine after returning to the Celtics via trade in 2021.

The Sixers decided to jettison Horford just one year into his megadeal, trading him away to the His fit with Embiid was a clunky one at best, and his first season with the Sixers ended up in a first-round playoff defeat against the Celtics. However, after just three years with the team, Horford decided to pursue one last giant payday as he nears the twilight of his career, signing with the Philadelphia 76ers to form a supersized frontcourt with Joel Embiid.

Grant Williams was a healthy DNP-CD for the first time all season against the Cavs.

And so, just getting used to the communication and the variables that go into our defense.” The former Thunder big man was scoreless in his 11 minutes as Al Horford and Rob Williams thrived during big minute night for them. And so they played, because of their sub pattern, we went with a bigger, we were able to stay in 13 a little bit more and not switch that second unit, which is big for us.” [Pre-registration for mobile betting](https://actionrush.com/go/fanduel-mass-pre-launch-mass-live/)in Massachusetts is live on FanDuel. The arrival of Mike Muscala however has opened the door for more options for Joe Mazzulla when it comes to lineup construction for his bigs. Since then, he’s put together one of the best seasons of his career with career highs across the board as a top reserve big for [Boston](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/02/why-heats-bam-adebayo-hates-celtics-details-jayson-tatum-friendship.html).

“Matchups,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. Instead, Williams was passed over on the second unit in favor of Sam Hauser and newcomer Mike Muscala, who played ...

We all are figuring out the moving pieces as we get ready for the playoffs and it’s a part of it, going on a journey right quick.” Mazzulla’s rotations were short, as he went nine deep on Wednesday but ultimately used Hauser and Muscala very little in the second half as he rode his starters plus Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White to the victory. Blake Griffin, once a superstar in the NBA, has embodied the culture to take on a reduced role on the court. And so they played, because of their sub pattern, we went with a bigger (lineup), we were able to stay in 13 a little bit more and not switch that second unit, which is big for us.” Instead, Williams was passed over on the second unit in favor of Sam Hauser and newcomer Mike Muscala, who played nine and 11 minutes, respectively. In four seasons with the Celtics, Grant Williams has become an integral piece of a championship-ready group.

Grant Williams was a healthy scratch Wednesday night for the first time since May 2021. So, why didn't the Celtics forward see the floor?

The good news for Williams is that there’s still plenty of opportunity ahead to reestablish his value. The playing time and money will take care of itself from there. The Celtics need to find out if Muscala can hold up against playoff-caliber opponents and Wednesday’s visit from the Cavaliers was a quality test. Stepping back, the bigger story here might simply be Williams struggling to increase his value given his underwhelming play lately. [Jayson Tatum](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/jayson-tatum?b), [Malcolm Brogdon](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/malcolm-brogdon?b), and Derrick White was a minus-4 over 4:32. He played only 6:11 in Boston’s first game out of the break against the Pacers, another team with frontcourt size. Williams can smother this story by excelling in his next opportunity. Pressed on the topic, Mazzulla noted he wanted to have more rim protection. A variation of that lineup -- with [Robert Williams III](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/robert-williams-iii?b) in place of White -- was more successful later in the game. The Celtics had a team-best plus-15.2 net rating in his 261 minutes off the court, and that number plummeted to a meager plus-0.5 in his 277 minutes on the floor. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley were a combined 2-of-3 shooting for a mere four points in that game. Williams was one of the only players to have success corralling Donovan Mitchell.

Their worst shooting night of the season doomed the Celtics as Joe Mazzulla defended the decision to not pivot away from the shot.

You’ve got a team that shoots a lot of threes, so I’ve kind of settled in, I’m trying to get to the basket more this year and that kind of has thrown a little bit of my dexterity off on my three-point shooting, but I’m still capable. If I get hot or if I take shots that I like, I can still fill it up, but for the most part this year, I’ve been trying to get to the rim.” Their big men don’t shoot at the rim often; Horford and Robert Williams III accounting for only 5.4 shot attempts at the rim per game. That line closely runs along before and after Robert Williams III returned, moving the Celtics back to bigger lineups rather than the five out group that sparked their historic start. The Celtics improved to 30-4 when hitting over the league average of 36% from three after beating Philadelphia, and fell to 14-14 when they shoot under that mark. Boston finished 1-for-12 in the first quarter, 2-for-19 in the first half and 9-for-42 in their loss to the [Knicks](https://www.postingandtoasting.com). It’s an easier excuse to accept after the final game and only loss of a three-game road trip, and a harder one to swallow after a Game 7 if the Celtics go cold over a smaller sample size in May. Last year’s Celtics went to the Finals ninth in three-point volume trying 37.1 per game, compared to 42.1 (second) this year. They covered so many bases, though vulnerabilities emerged since the hot start that pulled their offensive efficiency down to 15th in nearly three months since. Arguing against the approach in the regular season could be considered a little misguided. The Rockets from 2018-21, this year’s struggling Warriors, the 2020 Mavericks, 2021 Trail Blazers, 2021 Jazz and the 2018-2020 Bucks, along with the 2021-2023 version of Milwaukee (not their 2021 title team) rank among the highest volume three-point shooting teams ever. It’s an expected response from a team that relies on the three to the degree that the Celtics do.