Cavaliers rally from 22 points down to beat Celtics in Boston, 123-116
The Boston Celtics looked poised for a blowout victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, storming out to a 25-3 lead in the first quarter at TD Garden. But the Cavaliers, showcasing why they own the NBA’s best record, mounted an incredible second-half rally to secure a 123-116 win.
Jayson Tatum was electric early, scoring 30 points by halftime, while Jaylen Brown added 19. Boston controlled much of the game, but Cleveland steadily chipped away at the lead. By the third quarter, the Cavaliers had closed the gap to 96-95 after a clutch three-pointer and two free throws from Donovan Mitchell. Although Brown’s late basket gave Boston a three-point cushion heading into the fourth, Cleveland was far from finished.
Evan Mobley drilled a three and a short jumper to tie the game at 100-100 early in the final quarter, shifting the momentum entirely in Cleveland’s favor. Moments later, Mobley struck again from deep to put the Cavs up 104-101, while Mitchell continued to match Tatum and Brown basket for basket.
Cleveland took control when Mobley’s putback extended the lead to 111-106. Though Tatum fought back with a tip-in, Darius Garland responded with a massive three-pointer, pushing the Cavaliers ahead 114-108 and sealing the comeback.
Mitchell finished with 41 points, leading a resilient Cleveland squad that once again proved its ability to battle through adversity. Meanwhile, Boston’s struggles to close out games remain a concern as the regular season winds down.
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