The Cavaliers faced off against the Celtics in a highly anticipated matchup, with both teams vying for a crucial win. The game started off with intense energy from both sides, as they traded baskets and fought for every possession. The Cavaliers took an early lead behind the stellar play of their star player, LeBron James, who dominated on both ends of the court.
However, the Celtics fought back in the second half, led by their own superstar, Kyrie Irving. The game remained close until the final minutes when the Cavaliers pulled away with a series of clutch shots and defensive stops. In the end, it was Cleveland who emerged victorious with a final score of 106-93.
Rather than rolling through the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals on their way to The Finals – with one more series against a beaten-up (Knicks) or overmatched (Pacers) foe as a mere speedbump – the Celtics face a bit of a predicament. Not only did they get thoroughly outplayed by the Cavs Thursday in Game 2, they now have to fix things on the road, in a hostile building, against a rejuvenated opponent.
It’s a pattern similar to what the Celtics created in the first round against Miami, except it’s not: The Heat won Game 2 in Boston thanks mostly to flukey-good 3-point shooting (23 of 43, .535), then went back to being shorthanded and rather docile.
The Cavaliers responded in a big way to their blowout loss to the Celtics in Game 1 by crushing Boston in Game 2. A 25-point loss was followed by a 24-point win in the first two games of the series, setting the stage for Game 3 Saturday night. But Donovan Mitchell had little help, and the Jayson Tatum-led Celtics were too much for Cleveland's defense.
This game showcased the talent and determination of both teams but ultimately it was the Cavaliers who proved to be too much for the Celtics to handle.
NBA teams are especially careful since Kevin Durant suffered from the same strain in 2019. That postseason, Durant sat out a month, missing nine games during Golden State’s run to another Finals. Down 3-1, they brought him back in Game 5 and – pow! – he lasted less than 12 minutes before his Achilles tendon in that leg tore. Durant missed the entire 2019-20 season.
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