Boston CelticsOpen full analysis
Cleveland CavaliersOpen full analysis
The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109–98 on March 8 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, dominating a low-scoring affair that finished 10.5 points below the Vegas total of 224.5. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 30 points, while Evan Mobley added 24, but the Cavaliers' 40.7 percent shooting and 23 assists proved insufficient against Boston's balanced attack. Jayson Brown scored 23 points and Jayson Tatum contributed 20 for the Celtics, who shot 44 percent from the field and made 15 three-pointers to Cleveland's 13. Boston's rebounding edge (49–42) and superior ball movement (25 assists) fueled a dominant first quarter in which the Celtics built a 35-point cushion, setting the tone for the remainder of the contest. Cleveland's second-quarter collapse—just 10 points—proved fatal; the Cavaliers never recovered despite outscoring Boston in the fourth quarter. The Celtics' defensive rating of 106.2 compared to Cleveland's 116.4 highlighted Boston's suffocating scheme, while the Cavaliers' seven turnovers limited their offensive opportunities. Boston's road victory strengthens its playoff positioning as the Celtics continue their push for conference supremacy.
