The Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins were back in action Friday evening and night. The Celtics were at home hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Bruins were in upstate New York to battle the Buffalo Sabres.
At TD Garden in Boston, the Boston Celtics got a combined 64 points from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to outlast the Cleveland Cavaliers for their fifth straight win 129-117.
After a close back and forth first six minutes of action, Boston (22-7) went on a 19-6 run lasting early into the second quarter to break open a one point game going up 36-22 on a Tatum three-pointer. The Celtics went up 22 on another one from behind the arc later in the quarter by Tatum and led 62-47 at the break. In an 11 point game in the third quarter the hosts would open it up again using a 22-11 run finished off with an Enes Kanter layup to again go up 22 at 84-62. The Cavs cut it to nine late in the quarter, and the Celtics led by 11 headed to the fourth. Cleveland (9-22) did get within eight in the final quarter, but Boston put it away including back to back three-pointers by Brown and later one by rookie Tremont Waters to match the biggest lead once again 122-100 with just over three minutes left.
Brown matched a career high with 34 points, also adding nine rebounds and two assists in the Celtics win. He shot 13-20 from the floor (5-10 three-pointers). Tatum had 30 points (also 5-10 three-pointers), and had five rebounds and two assists. Kanter had 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Kemba Walker also got into double digits scoring 13 points, and also added four rebounds and four assists. Kevin Love had 30 points, seven rebounds, and four assists for the Cavaliers. Collin Sexton had 21 points and four rebounds, while Kevin Porter Jr. had 16, Tristan Thompson 12, and Cedi Osman chipped in with 10 points. Brown and Tatum become just the third Celtics duo to score 30 or more points in a game at the age of 23 or younger since Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, and Bill Russell and Tommy Heinsohn. Boston will host Toronto Saturday night at 7 p.m.
At Keybank Center in Buffalo, Patrice Bergeron scored a pair of goals and Jaroslav Halak stopped all 26 shots he faced as the Boston Bruins blanked the Buffalo Sabres 3-0.
Boston (23-7-9) would score their first one late in the opening period on the powerplay. After a faceoff win by Bergeron, Brad Marchand received a pass near the left point and quickly snapped a pass to David Pastrnak near the top of the right faceoff circle who then one timed a feed for a wide open Bergeron in the slot who beat an out of position Buffalo goaltender Linus Ullmark at 19:38 to make it 1-0. The Bruins had the lead thanks to great goaltending by Halak, who stoppped three or four in close Grade A opportunities by Buffalo in the opening 20 minutes. Bergeron doubled the lead late in the second period on another good passing play at 18:26. After a Sabres turnover in their own zone, Pastrnak took control of the puck and got it to Marchand who moved in two on one from the left faceoff circle and would find Bergeron to the right in the slot for the tap in goal. Buffalo (17-15-7) had more great chances in the third period carrying the play. The Sabres hit the crossbar behind Halak on a 4 on 4 situation, and Jack Eichel found Rasmus Ristolainen out front in the slot but he couldn’t convert either as Halak was up to the task. Brandon Carlo added an empty net goal with 1:54 left to provide the final difference, as Buffalo had pulled their goalie with about three minutes to go.
Marchand assisted on all three goals to lead the scoring on the night with three points. Bergeron had the two goals and Pastrnak had two assists as they both had two points. It was the third straight two goal game for Bergeron. Ullmark ended with 22 saves in the loss. Boston was 1-4 on the powerplay, while Buffalo went 0-2. The Bruins are now 3-0-3 in their last six games, and will host Buffalo for the back end of a home and home Sunday night.
