In a game where Cleveland decided that it would rest their best players, the Celtics did what playoff teams are supposed to do against inferior opponents, bury them. It started off a little bit slow, but after the first frame the Celtics went on a big run, and never looked back. And with the help of Russell Westbrook we might actually clinch a playoff spot tonight.
The first quarter started off with both teams trading 9-0 runs (including a ridiculous Tyler Zeller jam), before the Cavs went on a 9-4 run to make it 18-13 midway through the first. Celtics were settling for way too many jumpsuits, and unlike Friday night they weren’t falling. After a Stevens t.o., Isaiah Thomas put the team on his back, and the Celtics weathered the storm a little bit, going on a 8-4 run to end the quarter down 22-21.
The game was never in doubt after that. The Celtics starting the second quarter on a massive 30-7 run. The quarter was led by some highlight-reel plays by both Isaiah Thomas and Kelly Olynyk (see Greenlights). Celtics defense harassed and destroyed the rhythm of the Cavaliers, and Cleveland had no interest in running up and down with us the whole second frame. The Celtics went into halftime up 55-31, scoring more points in the quarter than Cleveland had at the half (34-31).
Third quarter was a lot of coasting. Turner had his way with Shumpert on both ends of the floor and Boston outscored the Cavs 29-24. They went into the fourth up 84-55, and continued the route in the final frame to a landslide victory, 117-78. The garden didn’t throw on Gino time even with the 20 point lead, but we got a couple Gigi threes so that was fun.
The Green
- Celtics collected 20 steals, the most in the NBA in 4 seasons.
- 7 Celtics scored in double figures
- Celtics out-assisted the Cavaliers 29-18
The Gross
- Cavaliers shot 3-22 from beyond the arc (13.6%)
- Cavaliers starters outscored the Celtics starters 53-50
The Grid
- Celtics outscored the Cavaliers 63-33 in the second and third quarter combined.
- Evan Turner continued being the glue guy for the Celtics scoring 15 points to go along with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals
- Points off turnovers: Celtics 32, Cavaliers 4
The Greenlights
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