NBA: Celtics Command a 3-1 Lead against Cavaliers
CLEVELAND — After an embarrassing Game 3 loss on their home court, the Boston Celtics came back with a vengeance for Monday's Game 4 defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-102. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in just under 44 minutes. With LeBron James watching from a courtside seat and the Celtics a commanded a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The Cavaliers were already considered the underdogs in the series, and it was a huge blow when star guard Donovan Mitchell was officially ruled out for Monday's Game 4 with a calf strain. Mitchell's absence was felt, especially after yet another incredible performance in Game 3, where he scored 33 points, making it the sixth straight game in these playoffs where he scored over 25 points. This only added to the disappointment. Despite the absence of Mitchell, the Cavaliers put up a good fight, but ultimately lost by seven points a packed Rocket Mortgage Field House.
"I mean, they laid it all out there," Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "They gave us everything that they had. They competed at a high level. They played the game properly. I'm proud of the guys, the way they went out and scrapped and competed and gave ourselves a chance."
The turnout wasn't a shock, as the underdogs were not full-force; missing critical pieces to their puzzle gave Boston the upper hand in Game 4, propelling them to take the lead in the series.
"To be expected, right?" said Jayson Tatum postgame. "When the best player goes out, everybody has more freedom, more opportunity."
