3 Celtics takeaways from bounce-back Game 3 win vs. Cavs

Boston now holds a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 3, which tips off in Cleveland on Monday night. Ahead of that pivotal road game, let’s discuss three takeaways from the Celtics’ double-digit win in Game 3.

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown had enough to counter Donovan Mitchell

In Game 2, the Celtics were embarrassed 118-94 on their home court. Tatum and Brown, who typically lead the way for Boston, went a combined 14-for-34 from the floor all while Cavs star Donovan Mitchell lit it up with 29 points on 10-for-19 shooting.

Unfortunately for the C’s, Mitchell was still on fire in Game 3. He finished with 33 points, going an efficient 12-for-22 from the field.

What ultimately made the difference on Saturday evening was that Tatum and Brown did enough on offense to counter Mitchell’s stellar showing. Tatum recorded 33 points, his highest total of the 2024 playoffs, and Brown notched 28 points in one of his most efficient outings of the season.

“We have a really great team, but we know we only go as far as us two go,” Tatum told ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth following the win. “That’s being the best player, the best teammates on both ends of the floor, and leading these guys every single night.”

“I think we just need everybody to be on the same page, and everybody to come out with the right effort,” Brown told the media during his postgame availability. “And that’s 85% of the battle right there. We come out, we play hard, and we’re on the same page, and the rest will take care of itself.”

The Celtics miss Kristaps Porzingis, especially on defense

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis could miss the entire second-round series due to a right soleus strain he suffered in Game 4 versus the Miami Heat.

Boston doesn’t necessarily need him to win, yet it’d sure like him back. The 2018 All-Star was the team’s third-leading scorer in the regular season and has the height and length to make him a formidable rim protector.

Veteran center Al Horford has been taking the majority of Porzingis’ minutes, and while the 37-year-old has played decently, he seemed a step behind in Game 3. He logged 39 minutes and went 1-for-7 on the night, missing all six of his 3-point attempts.

What was most troubling was his defensive speed, as guard Darius Garland blew by him a few times and Mitchell cashed multiple step-back 3-pointers right in his face. When Horford was forced to switch on either of the shifty guards, he often struggled to keep up.

Porzingis isn’t known for his pace, however, his length helps make him more switchable. Plus, having him for these games would allow Horford to rest, which would be nice in a series that has games every other day. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla may have to consider giving big men Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman more minutes to give Horford some reprieve.

Defensive issues aside, Horford remained strong on the boards. He had a team-high three offensive rebounds and helped keep multiple possessions alive. He’s far from unplayable, but the C’s need to figure out how to put him in front of Mitchell and Garland as little as possible.

Jrue Holiday had his best game of the playoffs when Boston needed it

Prior to Game 3, first-year Celtic Jrue Holiday failed to score over 14 points through seven postseason outings. In fact, during Game 2, he managed just four points and converted on two of his seven shot attempts.

Like Tatum and Brown, Holiday bounced back in Game 3 and had 18 points while shooting 70% on the evening. That was enough for his highest point total in over three months, as the last time he had over 18 points was on Feb. 9 against the Washington Wizards.

While Horford and guard Derrick White struggled offensively, going a combined 5-for-20 from the field, Holiday was there to pick up the slack.

“​​Jrue is kind of like the glue that keeps us all together,” Tatum told the media during his postgame presser. “He literally does everything that we need him to. He sacrifices, sometimes taking single-digit shots a couple games in a row. But on a night when he can attack the mismatches, he can post up guys, he can obviously shoot the three. When he’s being aggressive in that great rhythm, it makes us that much better. It just goes to the depth of our team — it’s not always going to be the same guy every single night. It can be any number of us.”

Boston will need another all-around effort in Game 4 against the Cavs, as Cleveland will be desperate to avoid falling into a 3-1 series deficit.