Even earlier than Tuesday’s evening matchup towards the reigning champions, the Cavaliers have been hoping to place themselves to the check whereas defending their spectacular unbeaten run for the reason that begin of the 2024-25 marketing campaign. This was completely summed up by their coach Kenny Atkinson, who was anticipating to make use of this sport as a thermometer.
“We wish suggestions,” he stated earlier than tip-off. “Extra suggestions. Hopefully, we’ll see this staff down the highway — and down the highway in an necessary sport. However, I don’t wish to blow this sport out of proportion. It’s that steadiness, however it’s extra anxious to see the place we’re.”
By the top of the match, it appears as if Cleveland bought precisely what they have been striving for, as Boston lastly delivered them their first lack of the season with a good 120-117 win final evening.
UNDEFEATED NO MORE‼️
The Celtics choose up a HUGE #EmiratesNBACup win over the Cavaliers at residence ☘️ pic.twitter.com/OtHMx0jKL6
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 20, 2024
Evan Mobley wasn’t uninspired after the match. “I’m pleased how we fought again,” he expressed. “That was the primary factor that I may be pleased about. I really feel like we didn’t begin the very best. That was the primary factor that actually shot us in our foot. However total, I really feel like we performed a reasonably good sport. I feel it was check, and from what I noticed on the market, we may beat anyone.”
The reality is, regardless that the Cavs made a robust push after halftime, they weren’t sufficient towards an impressed Jayson Tatum, who retains making an MVP case with final evening’s 33 factors, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Additionally, six different Boston gamers scored double figures towards the primary seed within the East.
However, your entire Cavs squad was impressed by Mobley’s efficiency, as he stored utilizing his measurement to dominate the airwaves. The younger ahead completed the sport with 22 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists to his identify.
“Man, massive time,” Donovan Mitchell stated about his teammates after main his staff with 35 factors and eight rebounds in 40 minutes. “[Mobley] set the tone for us. However when he’s in there and having the ability to create, dominate the way in which he did, that’s what he does.
“And it’s persevering with to be aggressive, and that’s simply a part of the method, persevering with to get higher and higher. We noticed this towards [Boston] within the collection final yr. He’s persevering with simply to develop and get higher, and that’s who he’s.”
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla was impressed by the way in which his offensive stars handled Cleveland’s bodily technique all through the match
Joe Mazzulla can actually be happy after witnessing his gamers beating the staff that’s nonetheless sitting atop the Jap Convention’s standings, however there was one factor that impressed him above all else. The Celtics tactician praised co-stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for enduring their rivals’ physicality.
“I believed each of them dealt with the stress and the physicality properly,” he expressed. “We performed slightly bit slower, however it was extra necessary to get to the right spacing. It was extra necessary to get our drive-and-kick reads. And so they did a fantastic steadiness of dealing with the stress, driving to assault, driving to get to the free throw line, driving to search out guys. So I hope groups proceed to be bodily, as a result of it simply will get us reps, and I believed they dealt with it very well.”
However, the Cavaliers made a robust push initially of the second half and have been in a position to reduce a 21-point deficit into simply two factors within the fourth quarter, however Boston held on. “Yeah, we knew,” guard Derrick White had already anticipated what was to come back.
“Everyone knew that they have been undefeated and coming to our constructing. And in addition, it’s an NBA Cup sport, and we already misplaced one sport. So it was a extremely massive sport in that facet. So we have been all conscious,” added the Celtics participant.