Oscars: Boston Celtics Edition
By Jeremy Karll
Best Picture: February 5, Boston Celtics 104 Cleveland Cavaliers 103
The real winner for Best Picture was Spotlight.
For the Boston Celtics, this award goes to their win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This was arguably the biggest win for the Celtics since Brad Stevens took over. A game in which the Celtics dug themselves a 12-point deficit in the first quarter, turned into one of the most thrilling games of the year in the NBA.
After barely being able to crack 20 points in each of the first three-quarters, the Celtics scored 39 points in the fourth quarter. Boston trailed by eight heading into the fourth quarter, and it seemed like they weren’t going to show the rest of the NBA how far they’ve come this season.
Boston ended up coming back and took a 92-85 lead with 3:18 remaining in the game, however, blew that lead a minute later. Boston trailed by five, 101-96, with only 18 seconds left, and it was seemingly over.
Jae Crowder ended up nailing a three-pointer, his only made basket of the game, with eight seconds left. However, Kyrie Irving made both of his free-throws and the Celtics trailed 103-99 with seven seconds left. On the ensuing play, Evan Turner drove the lane and got fouled while making the layup, cutting the lead to two.
Turner missed his free-throw but Marcus Smart was able to disrupt Timofey Mozgov on the rebound attempt, knocking it out of bounds, off of Mozgov. The Celtics had the ball with four seconds left, down two. And magic happened.
Isaiah Thomas drove the lane and once again made a beautiful kick-out pass, this time to Avery Bradley. As time expired Bradley raised up and nailed a three-pointer to give the Celtics an amazing come from behind win against the top team in the East.
Next: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Bradley’s game-winner could have also won Best Short Film, but he sealed the deal for the Celtics on that night and for this game being named Best Picture.