Boston Celtics (10-9) at Cleveland Cavaliers (12-8)Sunday, November 30, 20256:00 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #20 Highway Recreation #10TV: NBCSB, FDSN, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, WFAM/WMMSRocket Area
The Celtics go to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2nd of three conferences between these two groups. The Celtics received the primary sport 125-105 at Boston on October 29. They’ll meet for a third, and closing, time on March 8. These 2 groups break up the collection 2-2 final season with every crew successful one at residence and one on the street.
The Celtics are 142-89 general, all time towards the Cavaliers and they’re 55-61 in video games performed in Cleveland. The Celtics are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games after dropping a tricky sport in Minnesota on Saturday. The Cavaliers have been off on Saturday after dropping to the Hawks on Friday. The Celtics are 2-1 within the second of again to again video games.
The Cavs received 64 video games final season and saved their core collectively over the offseason. They misplaced Ty Jerome as a free agent to the Grizzlies. In addition they traded Isaac Okoro to Chicago for Lonzo Ball. Their solely different addition is Tyrese Proctor, who they took with the fortieth choose within the draft. Apart from that, they’re fielding the identical crew that obtained them the highest seed within the East final season. The Celtics are a vastly totally different crew from final yr’s second seed crew.
The Celtics are ninth within the East, half a sport behind eighth place Philadelphia, 1.5 video games behind fifth place Atlanta, sixth place Cleveland, and seventh place Orlando. They’re half a sport forward of tenth place Chicago and a pair of.5 video games forward of eleventh place Milwaukee. The Celtics are 7-6 towards Japanese Convention groups and 4-5 on the street. They’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games and are coming off a loss of their final sport.
The Cavaliers are sixth within the East, tied with fifth place Atlanta and seventh place Orlando. They’re 1 sport behind 4th place New York. They’re 1 sport forward of eighth place Philadelpia and 1 .5 video games forward of ninth place Boston. They’re 10-7 towards Japanese Convention groups and 8-3 at residence. They’re 5-5 of their final 10 video games and have misplaced their final 2 video games.
After this sport on the street in Cleveland, the Celtics then have one sport at residence vs New York. After that, they play at Washington, at residence towards the Lakers and at Toronto. They’ve added a sport in Milwaukee and one at residence towards the Pistons throughout the break for the NBA Cup. After the break, they host Miami, play at Toronto, host Indiana after which head out on a 5 sport street journey by way of Indiana, Portland, Utah, Sacramento and the LA Clippers.
After this sport at residence towards the Celtics, the Cavaliers will play at Indiana after which again residence towards a trio of Western groups with Portland, San Antonio and Golden State coming to play in Cleveland. Then there may be break for the Cup and doubtless 2 video games added for them as have been added for the Celtics.
Jayson Tatum stays on the injured listing as he rehabs from the torn Achilles. Neemias Queta and Jaylen Brown have been each questionable for Saturday’s sport however each performed, as did Derrick White, who was possible. Neemias Queta was dominated out for this sport with an ankle damage and Derrick White was dominated out with a calf contusion. I think about that the again to again had quite a bit to do with sitting them.
I’m guessing that Anfernee Simons will get the beginning rather than Derrick White and that Luka Garza will begin for Neemias Queta. Nevertheless, Joe is unpredictable so anybody might get the beginning for both participant. For Cleveland, Max Strus (foot) is out. Sam Merrill (hand) has missed the previous 5 video games and is questionable. Craig Porter, Jr (hamstring) has missed the previous 3 video games and can also be questionable. Each shall be a sport time choice.
Possible Beginning Matchups PG: Anfernee Simons vs Darius Garland
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Donovan Mitchell
SF: Jaylen Brown vs De’Andre Hunter
PF: Jordan Walsh vs Evan Mobley
C: Luka Garza vs Jarrett Allen
Celtics ReservesHugo GonzalezXavier TillmanJosh MinottSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanChris Boucher2-Means PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari WilliamsInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outDerrick White (calf) outNeemias Queta (ankle) outHead CoachJoe Mazzulla
Cavaliers ReservesThomas BryantLarry Nance, JrCraig Porter, JrTyrese ProctorJaylon TysonDean WadeTwo Means PlayersLuke TraversNae’Quan TomlinChris Livingston
Accidents/Out Max Strus (foot) outSam Merrill (hand) questionableCraig Porter, Jr (hamstring) questionable
Key MatchupsPayton Pritchard vs Donovan MitchellMitchell is the Cavs finest participant and he’s enjoying very properly to this point this season. He’s averaging 30.6 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per sport whereas taking pictures 50.5% from the sector and 38.9% from past the arc. Within the first sport towards the Celtics, he completed with 15 factors, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block whereas taking pictures 41.7% from the sector and 55.6% from past the arc. He’s coming off a 42 level sport towards Atlanta. The Celtics should stick with him on protection and attempt to sluggish him down.
Jordan Walsh vs Evan Mobley Mobley is a risk on each ends of the ground and he at all times performs properly towards the Celtics. He’s averaging 18.7 factors, 8.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks per sport whereas taking pictures 49.0% from the sector and 37.0% from past the arc. within the first sport towards the Celtics, Mobley completed with 19 factors, 11 rebounds, 1 steal and a pair of blocks however shot simply 36.8% from the sector and 25% from past the arc. He’s coming off a 20 level, 14 rebound sport towards the Hawks. The Celtics must defend him each within the paint and on the perimeter and they should attempt to maintain him off the boards.Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs De’Andre HunterHunter is averaging 17.9 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and a pair of.7 assists whereas taking pictures 46.2% from the sector and 33.6% from past the arc. Within the first sport towards the Celtics, he completed with 18 factors, 6 rebounds, and a pair of assists whereas taking pictures simply 29.4% from the sector and 25% from past the arc. He’ll probably play significantly better on this one. Jaylen Brown had an enormous sport towards the Timberwolves, however could also be a bit drained for this one.
Keys to the GameDefense – As at all times, protection is a key to successful this, and each, sport. The Celtics are sixteenth with a defensive ranking of 114.2. The Cavaliers are seventh with a defensive ranking of 112.2. The Celtics should make protection a precedence and play robust lock down crew protection for all 48 minutes. They will’t play robust protection for simply 2 or 3 quarters and count on the opposite crew to surrender.
Rebound – The Celtics are averaging 44.4 rebounds per sport (sixteenth) to 43.5 rebounds per sport for the Cavaliers (twentieth). The Celtics might want to crash the boards to maintain the Cavs from getting further possessions and second likelihood factors. A lot of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have started working more durable on the boards than the Cavs. However in addition they must work exhausting to rebound for your entire sport. Towards the Wolves, the Celtics out-rebounded the Wolves 23-15 within the first half however have been out-rebounded 22-20 within the second half. They’ve to provide a constant effort on the boards for the entire sport.
Consistency – The Celtics have been capable of construct leads in most of their video games to this point. In addition they have allowed their opponents to come back again from these results in both make the sport shut or win. They have been dominant within the first half towards the Timberwolves however then misplaced their power and energy within the second half. The Celtics shot 40.9% on threes within the first half, however simply 29.2% on threes within the second half. They should play properly and with power on each ends of the courtroom for all 4 quarters and never permit the Cavaliers to have an enormous quarter to bury them.
3 Level Pictures – When the Celtics make their 3’s they’re robust to beat however when the three’s aren’t falling, the sport will get actually ugly. The Celtics are third within the league, taking 42.9 threes per sport. The Cavs are 1st with 44.6 threes a sport. Though the Celtics are third in 3 pointers tried, they’re 18th, taking pictures 35.7% from past the arc. The Cavs are twenty second, taking pictures 34.8% from past the arc. The secret’s easy. The Celtics should make their threes they usually must defend the perimeter properly to maintain the Cavs from making theirs.
X-FactorsBack to Again On the Highway – The Celtics are enjoying on the street and might want to keep centered regardless of the distractions of journey and enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd. Cavs followers actually don’t just like the Celtics and can probably be loud and antagonistic. They should come into this sport centered and able to play more durable than the Cavs. Which may be tough because the Cavs are rested and the Celtics performed a tricky sport on the street on Saturday. The Celtics should dig deep in an effort to win this one.
Revenge Issue – The Celtics beat the Cavaliers in Boston on October 29. At the moment, the Cavs have been 3-1 and on the high of the East. The Celtics received that sport convincingly 125-105 and embarrassed the Cavs. The Cavs will probably be wanting high avenge that loss and can come into this sport with further motivation. It will likely be as much as the Celtics to match their power and motivation in the event that they need to win this one.
Officiating – The officiating is at all times an x-factor. Typically a crew will name the sport tight and blow a whistle on each play. Different occasions they are going to allow them to play and let the sport get bodily. The Celtics want to regulate to the way in which the sport is named and never let missed calls or dangerous calls have an effect on their focus. If the calls are dangerous, they simply must play more durable to make up for them and never allow them to lose deal with enjoying the sport.
