The Cleveland Cavaliers faced a significant challenge on Tuesday night as they tested their mettle against the defending champions, the Boston Celtics. Despite a valiant effort, the Cavaliers fell short, losing 120-117 and marking their first defeat of the season.
“This was a great test for us, and unfortunately we didn’t get the win,” said Donovan Mitchell, who led the Cavaliers with 35 points. Mitchell scored 18 of those points in the fourth quarter, including 14 consecutive points in a critical stretch. “It’s definitely a measuring stick. You want to see where you’re at, but not hold too much weight on it. We’re not going to be the same team now that we are in April.”
The Celtics, who captured their 18th championship last spring by defeating the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, entered this season as favorites to return to the NBA Finals. In contrast, the Cavaliers were not expected to contend, having only recently won a playoff series for the first time since LeBron James’ departure in 2018. However, Cleveland surprised many by starting the season with a franchise-record 15-game winning streak, making them the last unbeaten team in the league. Coach Kenny Atkinson made history as the first NBA coach to win his first 15 games with a new team.
“You want to be a part of history in that regard, but it’s a thing of the past. It’s over with,” Mitchell reflected. “It was a good run. When you’re playing good basketball and winning games — whether blowouts, close games, or come-from-behind wins — you enjoy those moments. It’s great to be part of history. We wish we had kept it going. But, like I said, there are no championships in November.”
The Celtics took control early with a barrage of three-pointers, building a 21-point lead. The Cavaliers fought back, narrowing the gap to two points in the third quarter. After trailing 114-105 with just 90 seconds remaining, Mitchell hit a floater and a layup, closing the deficit to five.
With Boston leading 117-110 and 25 seconds left, Mitchell sank a deep three-pointer to make it a four-point game. Following a free throw from Jayson Tatum, who scored 33 points, Mitchell was knocked to the ground while attempting to defend a steal. He remained on the court for a moment but later expressed concern about a potential concussion. “I was just praying to God I didn’t have a concussion,” he said, adding that he felt the play should not have been ruled a flagrant foul. “It was a play on the ball. He’s got bony shoulders. I hit his shoulder, and it is what it is.”
Atkinson acknowledged the Celtics’ shooting prowess, particularly their 14-for-22 performance from three-point range in the first half, which established a 17-point lead. He commended his team for their resilience in the second half but noted that it was too late to overcome the deficit.
“They shot the heck out of it,” Atkinson said. “That big second quarter was too much to overcome. We turned it up in the second half, but we need to improve in many areas.”
Looking ahead, Atkinson is focused on their upcoming rematch against the Celtics in Cleveland on December 1. “They’re so good. We gave resistance in the second half, but there’s a lot we can improve on. We’ll have another shot at them soon.”
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