Cavs overcome a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit with 20 points from Dean Wade to defeat the scorching Celtics!
Dean Wade’s confidence increased as the Cavaliers came nearer to the Celtics with each of his shots that found a way into the net.
He remarked, “The rim seemed like a swimming pool.”
Tuesday night, Cleveland stunned Boston 105-104, breaking the NBA’s long streak of victories at 11 games. Wade finished the game with five 3-pointers and 20 points in the fourth quarter, defeating the Celtics on his own. Cleveland also won a replay review in the closing seconds of the game.
The Cavaliers pulled off the largest fourth-quarter comeback in team history in the last quarter, rallying the Cleveland crowd with NFL standout Travis Kelce cheering them on from a courtside seat. The Cavs had fallen behind by 22 points.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen remarked, “To be honest, we knew we could do it from the moment the Kelce brothers began hyping up the crowd.”
Derrick White almost laying on the floor gets it to go!
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Missing All-Star Donovan Mitchell (knee injury) and forward Evan Mobley (sprained ankle in third quarter) to start the game, Cleveland came back with a vengeance.
Wade, who concluded with a career-high 23 points, saved the day with a string of three-pointers in the fourth and a putback slam that gave the Cavs a 105-104 lead with 19.1 seconds remaining.
With 0.7 seconds remaining, the Celtics attempted a last-second jumper, and All-Star Jayson Tatum, who commanded Boston with 26 points, seemed to foul Cleveland’s Darius Garland.
The Cavs contested the call, and after it was reviewed, officials declared that Tatum’s leg, not Garland’s, had made contact.
Though he wasn’t sure he would win the call, Garland remarked, “I believe it was great defense.” “I was aware that the leg kick was sort of in use. It still slightly aches in my shin, therefore I’m relieved that it was reversed.
Tatum believed Garland made sufficient contact for a free throw.
“We would have received the tip-in, but they (the referees) didn’t think I was fouled, which was unfortunate,” he remarked. “The way the game ends is strange.”
Max Strus’s 60-foot basket at the buzzer helped the Cavaliers defeat Dallas last week, and this was their most recent thrilling victory at home.
Following the game, Wade, who grew up in Kansas and is a die-hard Chiefs fan, said Kelce made him an offer.
“He said if basketball didn’t work out for me, I could be a backup tight end,” Wade said. “I got good hands. That was just awesome. Pretty cool.”
The Cavs are counting on Wade to be more consistent, especially not being at full strength.
“He’s a multifaceted guy. He’s not just a spot-up shooter,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We know the things he can do defensively. But he has an offensive game and tonight he got it rolling.
“But at his core, Dean Wade is a man of belief and confidence.”
The Cavs made eight of their eleven 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, led by Garland’s 16 points and 11 assists and Allen’s 21 points and 12 rebounds. Cleveland’s resurgence was bolstered by two impressive three-pointers from reserve Georges Niang.
With Kristaps Porzingis scoring 24 points and Jaylen Brown scoring 21, Boston suffered its first defeat since February 1. In that span, the Celtics triumphed three times by a margin exceeding forty points.
“I lost my mentality today. The game was played. Not supposed to happen.
The top scorer for the Cavaliers, Mitchell, suffers from a left knee problem.” He may be sidelined for an extended period of time due to an ailment that is not healing with rest. He is out for a minimum of the next two games.
On Monday, Mitchell was given an injection of platelet-rich plasma. This weekend, he will be reexamined.
Mobley, who suffered a sprained left ankle with 5:29 remaining in the third quarter, was also gone for Cleveland.
The Celtics had just defeated Golden State by 52 points, their third victory of the season by 50 points or more. With 7:28 remaining, they were still comfortably leading by 16, but the Cavs continued to chip away, and Wade’s sixth three-pointer gave them the lead.
Celtics were sharp in their free throw shooting with 91.7 % compared to Cavs 63.6 %. With 48 points to the Cavs’ 32, Boston dominated the paint. The Cavs’ superior 3-point shooting (46.7%) over the Celtics’ 39.5 was the decisive factor.
The Cleveland Cavaliers honored the Kelces with a bobblehead featuring the NFL legends who were born in Cleveland. A No. 62 jersey was given to Jason Kelce, who announced his retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday after 13 seasons.
Celtics have tough match ahead facing the defending champions Denver nuggets on Thursaday who are also in top form behind Jokic MVP numbers and Murray’s top form. Celtics still have best record in NBA 48-13 and are top seed in Eastern Conference https://x.com/NBA/status/1765255515297263656?s=20
Cleveland Cavaliers are 3rd seed in Eastern conference with 40 wins.
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