Celtics forward Al Horford goes in for a first quarter slam dunk on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden in Boston against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo courtesy of Lincoln Denison.
Despite an 11 point first half deficit Tuesday night, and a triple double from Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, the Boston Celtics rallied all the way back for a 107-94 win in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden in Boston. Boston now leads Cleveland 2-0 in the best of seven series.
It was a tale of two halfs. James, after 15 total points in a 25 point game one loss, scored 21 in the opening 12 minutes on his way to a 25 point first half. Cleveland led by as many as 11, and held a 55-48 halftime edge. Down nine still in the third at 61-52, Terry Rozier caught fire. Rozier scored 11 of the next 22 Celtics points, and when Marcus Smart nailed a three pointer with 4:34 left Boston had taken a 72-71 lead. Rozier finished off the flourish with a slam dunk on a fast break to give the hosts a three point lead. Rozier made another three pointer with 44 seconds left in the quarter making it 84-77, as he came up with 14 points in the stanza. Boston built their lead to 11 in the fourth, and Cleveland got as close as six on a James jumper with 4:41 left to play to make it 95-89. Rozier put the finishing touches to the victory with a slicing move in the paint that extended the Celtics biggest lead of the night to 15 with just 1:48 left in the game. Boston improved their 2018 home playoff record to 9-0.
Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics with 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Rozier finished with 18 points and five rebounds. Al Horford had 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. Marcus Morris had 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart both chipped in 11 points, with Smart also contributing five rebounds and nine assists. Boston made 10 from three point land (10-31) after hitting 11 triples in the game one win.
James finished with 42 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists for the Cavaliers. Kevin Love also added a double double with 22 points and 15 rebounds. The only other Cavalier in double figures was Kyle Korver with 11 points. Cleveland was alot better from the three point arc making 10 from distance (10-31), after a 4-26 effort in a game one loss. Cavs also only made 10-17 from the foul line.
Game three is scheduled for Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena as the Cavaliers head back to Cleveland to try and protect their home floor. Tipoff is scheduled for shortly after 8:30 pm. Boston is 37-0 all time in any series that they have led 2-0.
CLE 27 28 22 17- 94
BOS 23 25 36 23- 107
