The turning point came in the third quarter, and Donovan Mitchell was ready to capitalize. After Jayson Tatum sank a three-pointer over him, Mitchell sensed the momentum shifting in favor of the Boston Celtics. With the Cleveland crowd’s excitement waning and his teammates’ energy dipping, he knew it was time to take control.
Mitchell responded decisively, scoring 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Cavaliers to a 115-111 victory over the defending NBA champions on Sunday night. This win avenged Cleveland’s earlier loss to Boston, which had halted their historic 15-0 start to the season.
“That’s who we want to be,” Mitchell said, noting his second-half surge after a slow start. “You always want to get a team back when they beat you, and we wanted to leave our mark on the game.”
The Cavaliers had suffered their first defeat of the season in Boston on November 19, but despite that setback, the team remained optimistic about their chances in a rematch. Mitchell, who had struggled with a 5-for-23 shooting performance in a loss to Atlanta just days earlier, initially faced challenges against the Celtics, who were missing key players Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
However, when the game was on the line, Mitchell rose to the occasion. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson praised his star guard, noting, “He was unbelievable.” Mitchell was flawless in the fourth quarter, hitting all six of his shots, including four three-pointers and four free throws. He scored 11 consecutive points at a critical moment, draining three straight three-pointers and then executing a floater to give the Cavs a 103-101 lead with just over a minute left.
The final moments of the game were marked by strategic fouling and free-throw shooting, but the Cavaliers managed to withstand some tense moments and secure the victory, ending the Celtics’ seven-game winning streak.
This win reaffirmed the Cavaliers’ belief that they can compete with the Celtics at any time. Last season, Boston eliminated Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and both teams appear poised for another showdown this season.
Mitchell also highlighted the contributions of his teammates, particularly Darius Garland, who scored 22 points and handled defensive challenges effectively.
With this performance, Mitchell recorded his 59th career game with at least 30 points, surpassing World B. Free for second place on the Cavaliers’ all-time list. He recently overtook Kyrie Irving (54) but still trails LeBron James, who holds the record with 324.
While Mitchell appreciates the individual accolades, his focus remains on team success. “To be in the history books like that, it’s always an honor,” he reflected. “But at the end of the day, I got to win a ring. This is great, and I’m honored, but the goal is to bring another championship to the city.”
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