Win Over Cavaliers Displays Resolve of Celtics

In the midst of 10 lead changes in the fourth quarter alone on Wednesday night, the Celtics managed to overcome the defending champion Cavaliers in a statement 103-99 victory.

While Wednesday’s 103-99 victory does little to cement the Boston Celtics as the surefire candidate to dethrone three-time NBA champion LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference this spring, plenty can be derived from the Green Team’s defending of the TD Garden parquet.

In a true test of character, the Celtics emerged atop the Cavaliers despite 10 lead changes in the fourth quarter, 24 lead changes in the game overall, and James’ seventh triple-double of the season in undoubtedly the NBA’s most captivating contest yet in 2017. With the win, Boston improved their record to 14-6 in games decided by five points or less, the best mark in the league in such situations.

In the process, the Celtics overcame the demons that had haunted them in their previous two battles against Cleveland: an inability to close out the Cavaliers in the final moments at Quicken Loans Arena. Losing by six points each in a pair of defeats to James & Co., Brad Stevens’ bunch was within striking distance of sealing a statement road win on both occasions. In the second matchup, Boston rallied all the way back from an 18-point fourth quarter deficit only to see a potentially game-winner three-pointer by Jae Crowder glance off of the rim with 8.5 seconds remaining, allowing Cleveland to cling to a 120-118 lead.

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This time, with the setting shifted to Beantown, the ending was different. While the absences of Kevin Love and J.R. Smith from the Cavaliers’ starting lineup was undeniable, there is no debate as to how encouraging the rollercoaster win was for the Celtics.

What was a seesaw affair throughout the fourth quarter appeared to be trending in Cleveland’s direction after a floater and a made free throw by Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving handed Boston a 92-90 deficit with 3:28 remaining followed by an awry three-pointer by Isaiah Thomas, who had yet to can a bucket in the stanza. However, Thomas answered by slinging an unthinkable assist to an open Crowder, who knocked down a wing three-pointer to give Boston a 93-92 advantage.

When Irving answered with a pair of made foul shots, Thomas countered again, finding shooting guard Avery Bradley on the wing for an outside conversion with 1:08 left. James responded by flinging a pass to an open Kyle Korver for an open three-pointer, however, the King In The Fourth then struck for his first bucket of the quarter, hitting a 29-foot three-pointer off of the dribble with 49 ticks remaining.

To continue a surreal turn of events, Irving knotted the game at 99 apiece with one of the most absurd right-handed reverse layups that man has ever witnessed. Unfazed, Thomas struck again, driving into the paint and drawing contact before hitting two foul shots with 28 seconds remaining. Considering the chaos of the final minutes, it would not have been surprising to see Cavaliers newcomer Deron Williams convert on the open three-pointer that he was gifted by James with five seconds to go.

However, the Celtics managed to catch a break, as Crowder sealed the rebound following the missed shot and proceeded to ice the game with a tandem of shots from the charity stripe.

While Boston has proven their ability to come out on top in narrow fashion throughout the season, to do it against such a formidable opponent who simply would not relent down the stretch is telling. The Celtics approach in the final minute was evidence to support the team’s standing as one that is experienced in pressurized situations, something which bodes tremendously well heading into the postseason.

Amid the commotion of the back-and-forth melee, Boston focuses on coming out on top in each of their individual matchup’s. With Bradley returned from injury, Stevens was able to have him match up against the shifty Irving with 20 seconds left and the Celtics clinging to a two-point lead. Bradley was able to prevent Irving from utilizing his handles to get to the rim and draw contact, forcing him into a contested turnaround baseline jumper which bounced off of the rim.

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With the tenacious Iman Shumpert hounding Thomas in the final minute and Boston trailing, 97-96, Smart bumped Shumpert off of Thomas on a screen after giving up the ball to the All-Star point guard five feet beyond the three-point line. This allowed Thomas some rare breathing room. When Derrick Williams failed to step up to contest Thomas’ shot, the 5’9″ scoring fiend recorded the most important three of his 31 points on the night.