Cavs play hard without Donovan Mitchell, but it’s not enough in Game 4 against Boston
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CLEVELAND (AP/WJW) — Game 4 against the Boston Celtics Monday night in Cleveland did not go the way the Cavaliers had wanted. In the end, despite never giving up, the team fell to Boston 109-102.
About an hour before game time, it was confirmed that star Donovan Mitchell was out.
Despite that hard news, through the first half of the game, the team showed they were here to fight.
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The Cavs were down for most of the game, but kept it generally close. At the end of the first quarter, the Celtics led 37-30.
By the end of the second quarter the matchup had moved to 62-57, with the Celtics up.
#Cavs cut the #Celtics lead down to 1 in the 2nd Q, but trail 62-57 at the half. Max Strus leads Cleveland with 15 points. Caris LeVert 12 points, Darius Garland 11 points.
— P.J. ZIEGLER (@PJFOX8) May 14, 2024
PHOTOS: Cavs fans, including LeBron James, showed up for Game 4 against Celtics
By the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers continued to fight hard but the Celtics were up by 10, 88-78.
#Celtics trying to pull away… Payton Pritchard's three before the end of the quarter gives Boston some momentum heading into the 4th qtr.#Cavs down 88-78.
After hitting 11 first half three pointers, Cavaliers hit one three in the 3rd qtr.@fox8news— John Sabol (@John_Sabol) May 14, 2024
The fourth quarter was full of hope. Darius Garland hit a three early on and the team seemed to go on a roll, but it wasn’t enough.
Valiant effort by the #Cavs tonight without Donovan Mitchell & Jarrett Allen. #Celtics win Game 4, 109-102. Boston can clinch the series with a win at home in Game 5 Wednesday night.
Darius Garland had his best game of the Playoffs:
30 pts, 7 assists (0 1st Qtr pts) @fox8news— John Sabol (@John_Sabol) May 14, 2024
See photos from the game below:
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 13: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 13, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 13: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts on the bench during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 13, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 13: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers speaks with the team before Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 13, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) WJW photo CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 13: Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers passes the ball from the floor during the second quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 13, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) goes up for a dunk during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer) CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 13: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket by Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 13, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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The Celtics won the last Eastern Conference second round matchup 106-93 Saturday, led by 33 points from Jayson Tatum, while Mitchell scored 33 points for the Cavaliers. Boston now leads the series 2-1.
Monday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavaliers are looking to make use of homecourt advantage. Without Mitchell playing, the other players are all going to have to step up, especially Darius Garland, who has had a disappointing (for him) postseason so far.
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The Cavaliers are 31-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland is 22-13 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 12.7 turnovers per game.
The No. 1-seeded Celtics meanwhile have gone 41-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston leads the NBA with 35.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Tatum averaging 7.2.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Caris LeVert (3), Darius Garland, center, and Dean Wade (32) walk off the court during a timeout in the first half of Game 3 of the team’s NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks in front of Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, second from right, during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 11, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliersstad TD Garden
The Cavaliers’ 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.6 more made shots on average than the 12.9 per game the Celtics allow. The Celtics average 16.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 4.0 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Cavaliers give up.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Jarrett Allen is averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists over the last 10 games. But they were both out for Monday’s game.
Find the full schedule for the series below:
Game 4: Celtics vs. Cavaliers, Monday, May 13 (7 p.m., TNT) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Celtics, Wednesday, May 15 (TBD, TNT)
Game 6: Celtics vs. Cavaliers, Friday, May 17 (TBD, ESPN)
Game 7: Cavaliers vs. Celtics, Sunday, May 19 (TBD, TBD)
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