The Boston Celtics made the trip to Ohio with revenge on their mind and an available Grant Williams on their roster with the Tennessee product back from a one-game suspension. The Cleveland Cavaliers had a key player back as well with Darius Garland returning to action after an early eye injury kept him on the bench to start the 2022-23 NBA season.
As much as it might have been a satisfying answer for the Celtics to pull off an overtime win on the Cavs’ home court of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, instead, fans of the team found themselves in the Eastern Conference version of Groundhog Day, Cleveland stealing the win in an extra period 114-113.
Let’s take a look at what NBA and Celtics Twitter had to say about the game.
first quarter
Couple of nice layups from Boston to open the scoring. The second came off a terrific hit-ahead pass from White to Brown.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 2, 2022
Haven't sensed buzz like this at a Cavs game since LeBron left. There's some juice in the building.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) November 2, 2022
Cleveland really slingin that ball around to make this Celtics defense move.
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) November 2, 2022
This Cleveland backcourt is scary
— Brian Barrett (@itsbrianbarrett) November 2, 2022
Celtics feel like they're scrambling way too much
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) November 3, 2022
Cavs looking very confident, as if they know they can beat anybody. Celtics better start making some shots.
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) November 3, 2022
Second quarter
Nice job by Grant Williams here moving his feet to defend Donovan Mitchell on the switch. pic.twitter.com/287V21e6Tx
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) November 3, 2022
Enough of the drop
Mitchell is walking into an open shot or getting an advantage going downhill every time
Mix up the coverage please!
— Brian Barrett (@itsbrianbarrett) November 3, 2022
Cavs tried to attack the Grant at center lineup with Love at the rim and he was swatted both times. Once by Grant, once by Tatum.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) November 3, 2022
Darius Garland apparently sees blurry and tinted red when he looks to the left? Anyway he's 4-4 from three tonight.
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) November 3, 2022
https://t.co/y2fyU6u2tY pic.twitter.com/118Dxl8g2m
— kate (@smarttommypoint) November 3, 2022
16-3 Celtics run.
Jaylen Brown in attack mode, Derrick White drains a 3 from the corner & 5 straight points from Tatum. Celtics leading the Cavs 54-46
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) November 3, 2022
The Celtics have really come alive and it's been off of their defense.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 3, 2022
Man, when the Celtics are in rhythm this season at both end, they look like an unstoppable force.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 3, 2022
Third quarter
Three fouls on Jaylen Brown.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 3, 2022
Again. https://t.co/cs3EhP7guN
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 3, 2022
15 point defensive quarter
— Richard White (@RamblinWreck34) November 3, 2022
POWERRRR. Tatum on Mitchell pic.twitter.com/34FNfg9v2Z
— 🍀 LockJaw OverBite🍀 (@Waxon_Jaxon) November 3, 2022
This broadcast treating Tatum's defense like a new development is pretty damning for national NBA coverage
— Dr. Daniel fromSport, Esq. (@DanielfromSport) November 3, 2022
Joe Mazzulla really is committed to this "Let them play through it, don't call timeout" bit.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) November 3, 2022
Cavs have been really hunting Hauser. Probably have to get him out of there.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) November 3, 2022
Mazzulla could have challenged twice in his game and he didn't do it either time.
Gotta save those timeouts. Collect enough of them, you can trade them in for a prize at the end of the season.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 3, 2022
Fourth quarter
Al Horford has notched his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 3, 2022
Cavs bench now 0 for 11 from three. Have had some wide open ones.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) November 3, 2022
Pay Grant Williams. https://t.co/IHGyCMYgZe
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) November 3, 2022
Derrick White working his ass off on defense appreciation post pic.twitter.com/aTAed6nrQM
— Greg Brueck-Cassoli (@GregCassoli) November 3, 2022
Mazzulla might be onto something with this whole 'calling a timeout' thing.
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) November 3, 2022
Derrick White’s rim defense has been spectacular tonight. Few guards in the game can confidently protect the rim by stripping the ball on the raise up like him.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) November 3, 2022
Marcus Smart is the Marcus Smart of Marcus Smarts
— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) November 3, 2022
Holy hell what a pass from Brogdon while falling to the floor. That was NOT easy
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 3, 2022
Jayson Tatum took off, slams over Allen & ties the game at 107 🔥
Tatum wanted a foul on the dunk, there’s 6.7 seconds left for CLE
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) November 3, 2022
That was quite the end-to-end for Jayson Tatum. Dunk over Jarrett Allen at one end, block of a Donovan Mitchell jumper to ensure overtime at the other. Wow.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) November 3, 2022
Overtime
— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) November 3, 2022
Thankfully no double big to start this overtime vs. Cleveland
— John Zannis (@John_Zannis) November 3, 2022
Everyone looks gassed.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) November 3, 2022
Jaylen should not have dribbled there…
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) November 3, 2022
For as well as the #Celtics closed regulation, brutal finish to overtime. Rough.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) November 3, 2022
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