GAME: No. 41 of 82
WHO: Celtics (30-10) vs. Cavs (25-12)
WHEN: 8:00 EST
WHERE: TD Garden
RADIO: 98.5 the Sports Hub
TV: NBC Sports Boston, ESPN
BOX SCORE: NBA.COM
Projected Starting Lineups:
Celtics
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Aron Baynes
Inactive list: Gordon Hayward (leg) is out. Semi Ojeleye (back) is questionable.
Cavs:
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: J.R. Smith
SF: LeBron James
PF: Jae Crowder
C: Kevin Love
Inactive list: Isaiah Thomas (rest) and Iman Shumpert (knee) are out.
Fourth quarter notes from Bedard
- Marcus Smart makes his third 3 on six attempts to extend the lead again to 20.
- Terry Rozier makes his third 3. Celtics are 11 of 33 for the game so far with 6:30 left.
- Make it four for Rozier as he notches his game-high 20th point. That last one was over 6-11 Channing Frye. Hello.
- Cavs, who are without Kevin Love (ankle), are shooting 34.2 percent for the game.
- Love, LeBron and Wade look thoroughly bored on the bench.
- Tatum, Rozier and Baynes all exit to warm applause.
- Just a dominating performance from the Celtics, against a Cavs team that didn't look like it wanted to be here.
Third Quarter Notes
- Al Horford got involved on the offensive glass as well (five offensive boards) to take advantage of a weary Cavs front line and a continued miserable night for Kevin Love just four rebounds and two points in 19 minutes on 1-of-11 shooting.
- The C's defense was sharp, but open shots weren't falling for the visitors either. Lost of settling for long range jumpers as well, with no one outside of Jeff Green tallying more than three free throws through three quarters.
- The Celtics did well to hold their own on the defensive glass against the likes of Love and Tristan Thompson too, with just six second chance points despite sub 35 percent shooting from the field.
First Half Notes
- A lack of rhythm in the early going of this one. The Cavs looked a little tired (outside of LeBron coming off a back-to-back) while the Celtics offense was largely disjointed.
- Lots of more early additional opportunities for Jayson Tatum with the starters (four shots in six minutes) but he wasn't hitting early.
- Kyrie Irving was having his way with Jose Calderon (6 points on 3-of-5 shooting early).
- Kevin Love really was missing ugly from all kinds of easy looks early on. He started the game 0-of-7, looking particularly flat in the paint. Credit some solid defense by Al Horford on him as well.
- LeBron James had Marcus Morris and whoever else was defending him, starting game 6-of-7 from the field. He still loves to punish the Celtics in transition and got Kyle Korver going from downtown early by opening up shooting lanes for him.
- The Celtics bench was their downfall in the first matchup of the year with the Cavs. This time around they helped the team build some separation. Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier were both aggressive early but their stroke were on tonight. They combined for 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, helping the C's building a double-digit league against the Cavs veteran bench.
- Outside of Korver and LeBron, no one could get anything going against the C's defense. At one point their teammates shot a collective 4-of-27 from the field.
- Aron Baynes left with a right ankle injury in the second quarter but he returned to the bench after getting it re-taped.
- 21 minutes for LeBron in the first half. Cavs were held to 36 percent shooting.
Pregame Notes
- Semi Ojeleye returned to the court during practice on Tuesday and could make his return tonight after a four-game absence with a sore back.
- Marcus Morris will be on a minutes restriction for the fourth straight game.
- Four things to watch for in Celtics-Cavs showdown