CLEVELAND — After winning Game 3 106-93, the Boston Celtics will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Boston’s defense stepped up in a significant way in Game 3. It held the Cavs to under 100 points for the first time since winning the series opener at TD Garden.
Donovan Mitchell matched Jayson Tatum’s game-high 33 points in Saturday’s win, while Jaylen Brown’s efficient 28 points on 13-for-17 crushed a potential fourth-quarter comeback for the Cavs. The Celtics outscored Cleveland 54-41 combined throughout the second and third quarters in Saturday’s win.
“It’s going to be a big challenge. We’re expecting them to play better. I think after every game, a team just plays better,” White said after the morning shootaround. “It’s just more of a challenge. So, Game 4 is huge, and it’s going to be a challenge.”
Al Horford, who’s starting in place of an injured Kristaps Porzingis, struggled in Game 3 before finishing with two points on 1-for-7 from the floor and seven rebounds. The Cavs’ offense effectively caught Horford on defensive switches that forced the Celtics’ veteran to defend Mitchell one-on-one, a favorable matchup for the best scorer, averaging 29.6 points per game, in the series, and a go-to tactic Cleveland’s expected to turn to early and often in Game 4.
White commented on the Horford/Mitchell switches.
“I think he did as good of a job as everybody else on the team,” White said. “We just try to make it difficult for him. He’s a great player, and he makes great shots. We just gotta be consistent in making him work and try to take away the stuff that he likes to do and force him to make tough shots — which he will, but we gotta look for something.”
Kristaps Porzingis Working Out Ahead of Game 4
Bad Bunny blasted through the Celtics’ Bluetooth speaker at Boston’s morning shootaround as reporters watched Kristaps Porzingis finish his workout ahead of Game 4. Although Porzingis is ruled out for Monday’s game, seeing him work on his moves in the post is an encouraging sign for the starting center who’s been nursing a right-calf injury since Game 4 of the Celtics’ opening round series against the Miami Heat.
“He’s been with us the whole time, and it’s always great to see him,” White said. “We got his music playing. Hopefully, it helps him heal faster, and whatever we gotta do to help him. It’s always great to have him around, and we know he’s doing everything he can to get back to us as quickly and safely as possible.”
Sights & Sounds From Celtics Morning Shootaround for Game 4