Celtics beat Cavs: dominant Pritchard and Brown triple-double

After an initial +12 lead, Boston paid for sloppy ball handling as Cleveland struck in transition, rapidly cutting the deficit to 28-26. In this intense, high-paced contest, Cleveland briefly seized momentum via an aggressive Evan Mobley. However, defensive struggles against Anfernee Simons and Payton Pritchard cost the guests dearly. Boston relied on crucial hustle plays, and Jaylen Brown sparked a 9-0 run for a 58-51 lead.

Despite Mobley and Jaylon Tyson’s efforts, Cavs errors fueled Boston’s shooters. Pritchard, Brown, and Hauser rained triples during a 21-3 run, stretching the lead to 86-65. Donovan Mitchell and Mobley finally responded with a 14-4 run, while Tyson and Tyrese Proctor helped pull Cleveland within 92-88.

Yet, fatigue clearly struck. Boston hammered the paint, Pritchard exploited matchups, and Brown secured a triple-double. With the game on the line, Mobley’s desperate shot to force overtime missed at the buzzer, sealing the victory for the Celtics.