In Jayson Tatum’s second recreation again, he scored 20 factors in 27 minutes after an enormous 12-point first quarter. Nonetheless, this afternoon belonged to Jaylen Brown who scored 23 factors with 9 rebounds and eight assists. The Celtics beat the Cavaliers, 109-98 to enhance to 43-21.
Nikola Vucevic is the one Celtic who missed this one together with his proper ring finger damage. Boston began Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta. Donovan Mitchell returned for the Cavs after lacking their previous few video games, they have been lacking Jarrett Allen, Max Strus and Tyrese Proctor. Together with Mitchell, they began James Harden, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade and Evan Mobley.
It was a little bit of a sluggish begin for the Celtics who have been outscored 11-3 early within the recreation resulting in a Joe Mazzulla timeout. Evan Mobley had 7 fast factors for Cleveland.
1-6 (1-3) vs 4-5 (1-2) how do we expect it is going
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) March 8, 2026
Jayson Tatum appeared like Jayson Tatum within the first quarter. He scored 12 factors on 4/6 from the sector as Boston completed the quarter on a 32-15 run to guide 35-26.
The 2nd quarter acquired off to a quick begin for the Celtics with each Tatum and Brown on the bench. Prior to now Boston would crumble in these minutes however they’ve been taking part in these minutes all season and successful them by loads. They outscored the Cavs 7-2 by the point that the Jays checked again in.
you kinda neglect the celtics have been taking part in non tatum/brown minutes all season and successful them.
— jack (@janderson22_) March 8, 2026
The 2nd quarter actually belonged to the Celtics protection. Over the primary 8:31 of the quarter, Boston held the Cavs to 7 factors, 2 of which got here off of a Mobley quick break dunk.
Cleveland completed with simply 10 factors within the quarter, 4/25 from the sector and 0/14 from three. The Celtics led 56-36. Jayson Tatum led the workforce with 14 factors whereas Jaylen Brown chipped in 11 of his personal.
Cleveland opened the primary 3:07 of the sport on an 11-3 run.
Since then, 53-25 #Celtics. https://t.co/hdu1sgxvts
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) March 8, 2026
Cleveland acquired going within the third as they scored extra factors within the first 4:25 of the quarter (14) than they did in your complete 2nd. Joe Mazzulla known as a timeout because the C’s lead was lower to 12 factors.
Jaylen actually acquired it going within the third quarter, he had 9 factors within the first 7 minutes of the quarter, making 4 of his first 6 shot makes an attempt within the interval.
The Celtics bounced again nicely, taking a 25-point lead however an 8-0 Cavs run to finish the quarter lower the Boston result in 86-69. Brown led the workforce with 20 factors whereas Sam Hauser had 15 and Baylor Scheierman had 13 of his personal.
That carried over to the 4th quarter because the Cavaliers lower the Celtics result in 91-81 on a 12-5 run within the first 3 minutes of the quarter.
JT cooled down after a sizzling begin, with a stretch of seven straight missed pictures after his huge 12 level first quarter. You may see he appears to be like nice; he simply wants the conditioning to comeback. That may take a while.
A giant pair of Payton Pritchard buckets settled the Celtics offense again down earlier than a Jayson Tatum layup made it a 14-point recreation once more. Then after Cleveland lower the lead again to 9, Jayson Tatum hit an enormous three to make the lead 12 as soon as once more.
That was the dagger as Cleveland missed back-to-back threes on the finish of the sport, permitting the Celtics to tug out the 109-98 win.
The bench gave huge contributions too as Payton Pritchard scored 18 factors and Baylor Scheierman scored 16. The Celtics shot 44% from the sector and 39.5% from three whereas the Cavaliers shot 41% from the sector and 29% from three. The Celtics subsequent recreation is towards the Spurs in San Antonio on Tuesday at 8 EST.
