Boston bruising: Cavaliers humbled on national TV, swept in season series by Celtics

CLEVELAND — There's nothing like getting embarrassed on national television. The final score looked respectable — Boston 109-98 — but the Celtics proved their superiority over the Cavaliers on Sunday at Rocket Arena. Boston swept the season series against Cleveland three games to none. The Cavs (39-25) were abysmal in the second quarter. They were outscored 21-10 and trailed 56-36 at halftime. They were never able to recover. Cleveland shot .160 from the field (4-of-25) and didn't make a 3-pointer (0-of-14) in the second quarter. "We got good looks," Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell said. "We've got to make them. When you're not making shots, it feels like the sky is falling." Boston (43-21) opened up a 26-point lead in the second quarter and was never seriously threatened thereafter. Mitchell had 18 of his game-high 30 points in the second half. He had missed the previous four games with a groin pull. "He kept us in it," Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. "He was a little rusty. He has no issues (with the injury after the game)." Mitchell said one of his jobs as a leader is to add a spark to the team and "push the energy higher." The Cavs, who snapped a seven-game home winning streak, attempted to get back in the game but just couldn't get over the hump. It seemed like every time they got within striking distance, the Celtics would make another big 3-pointer. Guard Payton Pritchard was once again deadly with 18 points off the bench. Overall, Boston's reserves outscored Cleveland 41-13. Mitchell added seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks. He was 9-of-18 from the field and 3-of-9 from the 3-point line in his first action since Feb. 24 vs. the New York Knicks. Celtics guard Jaylen Brown had a team-high 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Forward Jayson Tatum, in his second game back after rupturing his Achilles tendon last May, added 20 points. "He's a great player," Cavs forward/center Evan Mobley said. "He changes the game." Mobley contributed 24 points, eight rebounds and a game-high three blocks, while point guard James Harden added 19 points and a game-high 10 assists. "They are a good team, but so are we," Mobley said. "If we didn't have those lapses (in the second quarter), we're right there." Atkinson wasn't happy that the Cavs shot 45 3-pointers and made 13. "We love shooting threes," he said. "We got overzealous." He cited several instances when Cleveland players had clear lanes to the basket and still hoisted up long-range shots. "It was a tale of two halves," Atkinson said. "We were much better in the second half. Give them credit." Both teams were missing their starting centers, as Cavs big man Jarrett Allen (tendinitis in right knee) and Boston's Nikola Vucevic (fractured right ring finger) sat out with injuries. Allen is also expected to miss tonight's game vs. Philadelphia. Mitchell said he believes Cleveland is on the verge of making another run. "It's there," he said. "The best thing is we're there and almost healthy." Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.