The Cleveland Cavaliers entered Sunday night’s matchup against the Boston Celtics with questions hanging over their heads. After back-to-back losses to the Atlanta Hawks, coach Kenny Atkinson wanted to see how his team would respond to adversity. Down by 14 points in the third quarter, it seemed like Cleveland might suffer a third consecutive loss—but Donovan Mitchell had other plans.
The Cavaliers’ star guard delivered a second-half masterpiece, scoring 30 of his 38 points after halftime, including 20 in the fourth quarter. His heroic performance propelled Cleveland to a 115-111 victory over the defending Eastern Conference champions, keeping the Cavaliers atop the NBA standings with an 18-3 record.
Mitchell’s Heroics in the Spotlight
Mitchell’s fourth-quarter explosion included three consecutive three-pointers in a 93-second span, erasing Boston’s lead and energizing the Cleveland crowd. He sealed the game with a clutch runner in the lane with just over a minute remaining, giving the Cavaliers a lead they would not relinquish.
Reflecting on his mindset, Mitchell said, “In the third, I kind of felt it…when [Jayson Tatum] hit a shot over me. I was like, ‘He’s starting to get it going…It’s time to go.’” His aggressive approach paid dividends as Cleveland turned a challenging situation into a statement win.
A Tale of Growth and Resilience
This victory marked a significant moment of growth for Cleveland. Mitchell pointed to the team’s response to adversity, contrasting Sunday’s effort with their struggles in last season’s playoff series against Boston. “We could have easily been like, ‘All right, turning the ball over, different things, not getting stops, offense kind of bogged down.’ But who were we when we hit adversity? And that’s what tonight was,” Mitchell said.
Coach Atkinson praised Mitchell’s leadership, highlighting his ability to maintain composure even in tough moments. “He never gets too down or too high. He’s just like, ‘Everybody calm down, it’s going to be all right,’” Atkinson said.
A Defensive Gamble Pays Off
The Cavaliers also adjusted their defensive strategy, often switching 6-foot-1 Darius Garland onto the 6-foot-8 Tatum. This forced Boston into isolation plays and disrupted their usual ball-movement-heavy offense. While Tatum still finished with an impressive 33 points, his shooting faltered in the fourth quarter, going just 2-for-7.
Garland embraced the challenge, declaring, “I ain’t no punk. So if y’all want to switch and try to X me out and try to just hunt me out, that’s cool. I’m going to take a challenge.”
Looking Ahead
The Cavaliers demonstrated resilience and growth in a game that could serve as a blueprint for future playoff battles. “You’re just seeing the growth,” Mitchell said. “If we continue to grow and learn from these different things, that’s really what it’s about.”
As Cleveland eyes a potential postseason rematch with Boston, Sunday night’s thrilling comeback offers a glimpse of what this young, hungry team is capable of achieving.
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