Cavaliers pound Celtics 120-103
BY STONE LEXINGTON
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
Entering Entering the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Saturday night matchup with the Boston Celtics, the Cavs could have viewed the contest as a legitimate test during the last stretch of the NBA season. Boston arrived in Cleveland with a 38-25 record, good for third-best in the Eastern Conference. A test was exactly what the Cavaliers got.
The Celtics started the game on fire, posting a double-digit lead less than seven minutes into the contest. However, Cleveland battled back and eventually pulled away from the scrappy Celtics for a 120-103 victory in Quicken Loans Arena. With the win, Cleveland pushed its record to 33-3 when scoring at least 100 points this season, while also taking the season series with Boston 2-1.
“I just told us we need to be more physical on both ends,” Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said. “I don’t think to start the game, we didn’t come out aggressive on the defensive end, and we didn’t come out aggressive offensively. In the second half, we came out and we were able to attack downhill, get to the free throw line and get to the basket.”
Leading 103-96 after Celtics center and former Cavalier Tyler Zeller converted two free throws with 5:31 to play in the fourth quarter, the Cavs put Boston away late. After Zeller’s freebies, Cavs guard J.R. Smith immediately sank a three-pointer, LeBron James drained a layup and shooting guard Iman Shumpert splashed a jump shot. The three consecutive buckets gave Cleveland a 110-96 lead with 3:59 to play, essentially putting the game out of reach.
“The biggest thing for me is, we didn’t drop our heads,” Lue said of Cleveland’s large early deficit. “We didn’t pout. We continued to play, continued to fight, and the game changed for us.”
The Cavs dished out 27 assists against Boston and are now 27-1 when accumulating 23 or more assists this season. The good ball movement helped push Cleveland’s record to 27-5 at home this season, the best home record in the East and third-best in the NBA.
James led Cleveland with 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. With his point total against Boston, James has now scored in double-figures in 700 consecutive games (regular season only).
Kyrie Irving finished with 20 points, three rebounds and four assists. With the 20-point effort, Irving has scored at least 20 points in 13 of the last 17 games. Six other Cavaliers reached double-figures in scoring, including Shumpert, who totaled 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
“I think every night when you step on the floor, I think offensively you have to be aggressive and you have to be physical, attacking the basket and getting fouled,” Lue said. “I think defensively, that’s the biggest key for us every night is being physical at every position. If we do that, then I like our chances.”
The Cavs weren’t physical on defense early as the team got off to a horrific start Saturday night. After a James dunk with 7:09 to play in the first quarter, Cleveland trailed 15-13. Matters got worse for the Cavs after James’ slam as Boston immediately went on a 20-2 run to take a 35-17 lead. The 18-point deficit was Cleveland’s largest of the game, and the Celtics took a comfortable 35-22 lead into the second quarter. Cleveland allowed Boston to shoot 60 percent in the first quarter and connect on 5-of-7 three-pointers, but the Cavs found their mojo in the second period.
Cleveland opened the second quarter with a 15-10 run to bring their deficit within single digits, 45-37. When Shumpert sank two free throws with a minute remaining until halftime, Cleveland had battled all the way back to take their first lead, 55-53, since an early 2-0 advantage. The second quarter surge helped Cleveland take a 55-54 lead into halftime. If the Cavs weren’t ready to play at Boston’s level in the first quarter, the Celtics certainly grabbed their attention.
“Every team grabs our attention because we know we’re going to get every team’s best every single night,” Lue said. “A lot of tough matchups when teams go small and put smaller guys on the floor. There’s a lot of tough teams out there, and we could be facing a lot of these tough teams in the playoffs.”
A season ago, the Cavs swept the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs and could meet Boston again in this year’s playoffs.
“We did play them in the first round,” Lue said. “They’re a good team, very well coached. They got a lot of guys that play hard. I just know they’re a good team.”
Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 27 points and four assists. Former Ohio State Buckeyes big man Jared Sullinger contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds.
The Cavs will attempt to sweep their four-game homestand with a victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
POSTED 03/05/2016 22:36
Lake County Sentinel
