The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers can agree on one thing: Donovan Mitchell is a force to be reckoned with.
Cleveland’s six-time All-Star entered Friday’s showdown in Boston averaging 30.5 points per game against the Celtics second only to Michael Jordan. And in what may have been the season’s biggest matchup, Mitchell delivered yet again, dropping 41 points to fuel a thrilling 123-116 comeback victory over the defending champions. The win evened the season series and extended Cleveland’s streak to nine straight.
The Cavaliers found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing by 22 points just five minutes in. They fought back to make it a game by halftime, only for Boston to surge ahead by 17 midway through the third quarter. But that’s when Mitchell and company took control cutting the deficit to one before the fourth quarter and grabbing a three-point lead early in the final frame.
Jaylen Brown tied the game at 114 with just over three minutes remaining, but Cleveland closed the game with a dominant 9-2 run. Mitchell has been a nightmare for Boston in recent matchups, surpassing 30 points in all four games this season while averaging 35.5 points on 50% shooting.
On Friday, the eighth-year guard exploded for 12 of his 41 points in the final quarter, finishing 13-of-26 from the field, 5-of-13 from deep, and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. He also added three rebounds, five assists, and a steal. The performance marked Mitchell’s 19th 40-point game as a Cavalier and his fourth against the Celtics.
“(Boston) is a loud environment, but this is what we play for,” Mitchell said postgame. “We’ve been in different scenarios throughout the season. This was just another test how do we respond? We got punched in the mouth, and it was about fighting back. That’s been my message every game.”
Darius Garland had an off shooting night but still contributed 20 points and a game-high seven assists, hitting 9-of-23 from the floor. He has now scored at least 20 points in three straight meetings with Boston.
Evan Mobley was a force inside, recording his 27th double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds. The first-time All-Star came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also tallied three assists and a block.
“We just stuck together that was the biggest thing,” Mobley said. “It wasn’t the start we wanted, but we knew what we had to do. We dug deep and fought the entire game.”
One key addition for Cleveland at the trade deadline, De’Andre Hunter, proved his worth against the Celtics, leading all reserves with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range. He also grabbed five rebounds and added a block.
Cleveland’s bench dominated Boston’s, outscoring them 33-6. Payton Pritchard, a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, was the only Celtic reserve to score, finishing with six points while posting a -36 plus/minus in 25 minutes. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s Ty Jerome came off the bench for eight points, four rebounds, and three assists in 21 minutes, boasting a +34 plus/minus.
Next up, the Cavaliers return home to open March with a Sunday afternoon matchup against Anfernee Simons and the Trail Blazers. They’ll then face a back-to-back, traveling to Chicago on Tuesday before hosting the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Cavs wrap up the week with road games against the Hornets on Friday and the Bucks on Sunday.
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