In an incredible Eastern Conference showdown, the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 22-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 123–116 at TD Garden. He led the way with 41 points and capped off a remarkable performance with a few clutch plays in the game’s final minute to seal victory for his team. The final score was 123–116 in favor of Boston.
Darius Garland posted 20 points and seven assists, while Evan Mobley finished with a double-double, scoring 17 points and 12 boards. Jayson Tatum turned in one for the books at Boston, churning out a career-high 46 points to go with 16 rebounds and nine assists—this made him the first player in NBA history (while play-by-play stats are kept) to accomplish 30-9-7 in a half. Jaylen Brown had 37 points, but Boston’s bench was missing in action, accounting for just 12.
The Cavaliers outscored Boston 41–32 in the final quarter and forced several key turnovers. This was how they managed to win. Consequently, the Cavaliers improved their NBA-best record to 49–10, while the Celtics fell to 45–15. The game underscored Cleveland’s depth and Boston’s heavy reliance on its headliners.
🧨 Game Recap: A Tale of Two Halves
A 22-point first-quarter deficit was erased by the Cleveland Cavaliers when they upended the Boston Celtics 123-116 on Friday night. This meant not only that the team extended its winning streak to nine games but also could be seen as a possible preview of what might happen if both squads meet in later playoff rounds.
Boston exploded out of the gate, leading 25-3 in the first six minutes behind high-flying transition play and scorching marksmanship. But Cleveland’s poise, substitutes, and defensive toehold turned the tide over the remaining three quarters.
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🔍 Advanced Player Stats & Analytics
🏹 Cleveland Cavaliers
🕶️ Donovan Mitchell — Superstar Mode Activated
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PTS: 41 (13/26 FG, 5/10 3PT, 10/11 FT)
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USG%: 36.1%
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EFF Rating: +32
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4th Quarter Points: 12
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Clutch Time Plays: Game-sealing floater + 3-point play in final minute
Mitchell’s ability to control the pace, absorb contact, and still finish at elite efficiency makes him one of the NBA’s top closers. He’s now averaging 31.2 points per game over the last 10 games, with a true shooting percentage (TS%) of 63.4%.
🧠 Darius Garland: The Engine Behind the Comeback
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PTS: 20 | AST: 7 | TOs: 1
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Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 7.0
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Touches/Game: 88 (team high)
Garland’s patience against Boston’s pick-and-roll blitz schemes opened up mid-range floaters and dump-offs to Mobley and Allen. His +12 plus-minus was the best among starters.
🛡️ Evan Mobley — Defensive Anchor with Offensive Touch
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PTS: 17 | REB: 12 | BLK: 2
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Double-Doubles (Season): 27
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Paint FG%: 72%
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Plus-Minus: +9
Mobley’s corner three with 4:52 left gave Cleveland its first lead of the game (104–101), capping a stunning turnaround. His switching defense on Tatum in the 4th was pivotal.
🧱 Jarrett Allen — Efficiency Machine
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PTS: 10 (4/4 FG) | REB: 4 | BLK: 1
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Allen became the first center this season to shoot 100% FG in a game with 10+ points and 1+ block vs Boston.
🟩 Boston Celtics
⚔️ Jayson Tatum — Historic Performance in Vain
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PTS: 46 | REB: 16 | AST: 9
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First Half Line: 30-9-7
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NBA Record: First player since play-by-play tracking began (1996-97) to reach that line in one half.
Tatum’s footwork, body control, and improved vision make him arguably the most complete wing in the league. Despite his brilliance, his usage rate (41%) in the second half highlighted the lack of bench contribution.
🐾 Jaylen Brown — Scoring Surge, Defensive Lapses
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PTS: 37 (13/24 FG) | REB: 5
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Brown and Tatum became the first Celtics duo to each score 35+ in the same game since Bird & McHale in 1985.
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However, Brown allowed 3 buckets in the final 3 minutes when switched onto Garland and Mitchell.
🎯 Derrick White — Sharpshooter’s Touch
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PTS: 16 | 3PM: 4
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White had a game-high 84% eFG% but struggled defensively on Mitchell in isolation late.
📈 Momentum Metrics & Team Comparisons
| Stat | Cavaliers | Celtics |
|---|---|---|
| Points in the Paint | 54 | 36 |
| 3PT Shooting | 13/29 (44.8%) | 15/35 (42.9%) |
| Bench Points | 28 | 12 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 13 |
| Second-Chance Points | 14 | 5 |
Notable Insight:
The Cavaliers dominated the interior, despite Allen playing only 27 minutes, thanks to their spacing from Mobley and Mitchell’s rim pressure. Boston’s paint defense was compromised after Horford went to the bench with foul trouble.
🎥 Game-Changing Moment: Mitchell’s Clutch Takeover
With 58 seconds remaining and the score tied at 114:
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Mitchell drives on Tatum, hitting a high-arcing floater (+2).
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The Celtics miss; Garland rebounds, feeds Mitchell in transition, who gets fouled on a step-through layup and converts the 3-point play.
Result: Cleveland takes a 119–114 lead with 28.7 seconds left, sealing the comeback.
🔮 Playoff Implications & Outlook
🔼 Cleveland Cavaliers (49–10, 1st in East)
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League-best record and rising confidence in clutch situations.
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Top 5 in defensive rating, net rating, and FG% over the past 15 games.
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Playoff X-Factor: Mobley’s offensive emergence from the corner 3.
🔽 Boston Celtics (45–15, 2nd in East)
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Suffered rare home loss (now 18–11 at TD Garden).
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Depth concerns persist — no bench player scored more than 6 points.
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Playoff Concern: Over-reliance on Tatum/Brown to carry 75 %+ of the offense.
🗓️ What’s Next?
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Cavaliers: Host Portland Trail Blazers. Expect a possible rest day for Allen as they manage his minutes ahead of a brutal March schedule.
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Celtics: Prepare for a marquee matchup vs the Denver Nuggets. Focus will be on bench cohesion and late-game shot selection.
📽️ Bonus: Watch the Highlights
🎥 Full Game Highlights: Cavaliers vs Celtics (NBA 2025)
📊 Final Box Score Summary
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics | 38 | 11 | 35 | 32 | 116 |
| Cavaliers | 26 | 23 | 33 | 41 | 123 |
Most telling stat: Cavaliers outscored Boston 41–32 in the 4th, with Mitchell responsible for or assisting on 21 of those 41 points.