Cavaliers 105, Celtics 104: Dean Wade leads crazy comeback

CLEVELAND — Before the game, Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said it was a "fun challenge" to play the team with the best record in the NBA. Evidently, his players relished that challenge, snapping the Boston Celtics' 11-game winning streak with an exhilarating 105-104 victory Tuesday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse before a national television audience . Cleveland (40-21) trailed by 22 points with about nine minutes remaining when forward Dean Wade took over the game. He scored 20 of his career-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, including a follow dunk with 19.1 seconds left that proved to be the winner. The 6-foot-10, 219-pounder made all seven of his shots in the fourth, including a sizzling 5-for-5 from the 3-point line. "It was a great feeling," Wade said. "The rim looked like a swimming pool." After a quiet first half, he was encouraged by his teammates to keep shooting. Forward Georges Niang told him: "Empty the clip, man. Get 'em up." He listened. Wade outscored the Celtics in the fourth quarter 20-17. After his follow dunk that gave the Cavs a one-point edge, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was fouled by Cleveland guard Darius Garland with 0.7 seconds left. Bickerstaff challenged the call and it was overturned. So instead of Tatum heading to the foul line with a chance to win the game, the teams went to center court for a jump ball with less than a second to play. Time expired and the crowd cheered wildly. The All-Star Tatum had a game-high 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics (48-13). However, he was 1-for-11 from the field for four points in the second half. The Cavs lost another key performer when power forward Evan Mobley sprained his left ankle in the third quarter and didn't return. He left the locker room on crutches. "Evan landed funny after a dunk," Bickerstaff said. The Cavs were already playing without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell and starter Max Strus, both sidelined with knee injuries. Cavs center Jarrett Allen had 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Garland had 16 points and a season-high 11 assists. Allen called the victory over Boston a "signature win." "Absolutely," he said. "They are the No. 1 seed right now. Everyone is chasing them. We played to the last buzzer." Players said the crowd played a role in the comeback. Many were on hand to get the bobblehead doll of Travis and Jason Kelce, natives of Cleveland Heights. Late in the game, the brothers were leading cheers. "Once the Kelce brothers hyped up the crowd, it was like, 'We can do this,'" Allen said. He credited Wade's explosive performance. "We needed that Dean Wade to show up," Allen said. "That's the Dean Wade we all know." The Celtics closed the third quarter on a 16-4 run to seemingly blow the game wide open. Boston opened up an 87-71 lead heading into the final quarter. "It's a fun challenge to play the team with the best record in the NBA," Bickerstaff said before the game. "You want to face the best. You want to embrace the competition." Worrying for Don? Mitchell will miss at least the next two games before the bone bruise in his left knee is re-evaluated. "There's always a concern," Bickerstaff said. "I'm confident the next steps (will help). He was trying to play through it. He was hampered. He couldn't explode through it." The coach said Mitchell wasn't injured in one particular game. "It's more of a wear-and-tear thing," Bickerstaff said. "It built up over time." He said tendinitis in Mitchell's knee flared up. Bickerstaff said he doesn't think it will be a long layoff for the five-time All-Star. More pressure on Garland Bickerstaff said with Mitchell sidelined, there will be more of a burden on Garland handling the ball and running the offense. "We expect Darius to be his best every night," he said. Garland has been red-hot shooting from distance. In his last four games, he's shooting .548 from the 3-point line (23-of-42). Okoro's rising up Swingman Isaac Okoro has improved every year in the league from behind the arc. This season, he's shooting a career-high .400 from the 3-point line. He also reached double figures in scoring in seven of his previous nine games. On the season, he's averaging 9.4 points. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.