Celtics
Celtics Out-Rebound Cavaliers 74-46, Pull Away Late in Cleveland
The Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-113 at Rocket Arena in a preseason game. Boston built its margin with a 39-point second quarter and a 74-46 rebounding edge, then held off a third-quarter Cleveland push before closing it out 25-17 in the fourth. It's preseason, so the result carries no standings weight, but it's a clean tune-up win for Boston.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 13 d ago01The story of the nightSecond Quarter Breaks It OpenCleveland led 29-29 after one and stayed in it, but Boston's 39-point second quarter turned a tight game into a…
Cleveland led 29-29 after one and stayed in it, but Boston's 39-point second quarter turned a tight game into a cushion, going up 71-62 at the half. The Cavaliers answered with a 34-point third to get within 99-96 entering the fourth, cutting what had been a double-digit gap down to three. Boston then closed on a 25-17 fourth quarter to finish it off. Boston's biggest lead was 15, Cleveland's biggest was 7, and both teams had 13 lead changes, showing how much this one swung before the final frame settled it.
02Garza and the Celtics Bench Carry the ScoringLuka Garza led all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds, adding 3 blocks on 6-of-17 shooting.
Luka Garza led all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds, adding 3 blocks on 6-of-17 shooting. Devin Carter was the game's best plus-minus player at plus-22, scoring 17 off the bench on 5-of-9 shooting with 6-of-6 from the line. Jordan Walsh added 16 points but needed 14 shots to get there, and Baylor Scheierman hit 4 of 7 threes for 16. Hugo Gonzalez chipped in 15 points and 5 assists. For Cleveland, Jaylon Tyson was the most efficient Cavalier, scoring 14 on 6-of-8 shooting, while Tristan Enaruna added 13 off the bench on 5-of-7.
03Won on the Glass, Lost in the PaintBoston shot worse than Cleveland overall (41.4% to 47.8%) and got beaten badly in the paint, 62-42, while…
Boston shot worse than Cleveland overall (41.4% to 47.8%) and got beaten badly in the paint, 62-42, while Cleveland's bench outscored Boston's bench 67-52. But the Celtics erased all of that on the boards, winning rebounding 74-46, and made more free throws than Cleveland attempted, going 25-of-35 at the line to Cleveland's 13-of-16. Boston also out-attempted Cleveland from three, 47 to 37, converting 17 to Cleveland's 12. Cleveland's edge came in ball security and transition: 11 turnovers to Boston's 16, 17 points off turnovers to Boston's 14, and 22 fast-break points to Boston's 15.
04What It MeansThis is a preseason game, so it has no bearing on the standings, both teams entering at 0-0.
This is a preseason game, so it has no bearing on the standings, both teams entering at 0-0. For Boston, the takeaways are a deep, productive bench (52 points, led by Carter's plus-22 night) and a dominant rebounding effort that papered over a rough shooting night and 16 turnovers. For Cleveland, Jaylon Tyson's efficient scoring and Craig Porter Jr.'s 10 assists off the bench stand out, but allowing 74 rebounds and 25 Boston free-throw makes are the clearest fixes before the games start counting.
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