The NBA’s perfect team met the reigning champions on Tuesday night.
Something had to give. They weren’t champions.
In the most anticipated game of the NBA season opener, the Celtics ended Cleveland’s perfect 15-0 start with a 120-117 victory over the Cavaliers in Boston. The Celtics dominated the first half, then held off a Cavaliers rally in the second half to secure the victory.
The Celtics opened up a 65-48 lead in the first half, stifling Cleveland’s league-best offense and 3-point shooting while hitting 14 of 22 of their own from beyond the arc. Boston extended its lead to 79-58 early in the third quarter and appeared on its way to a rout.
But Cleveland responded with a 30-11 run sparked by Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley to cut the Celtics’ lead to 90-88 late in the third. Then Jayson Tatum ended the quarter with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to push the Celtics’ lead back to five points.
Cleveland kept up the pressure throughout the fourth quarter, repeatedly cutting Boston’s lead to two points. But the Celtics answered each time and never let the Cavs take the lead.
Tatum led the effort with 33 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two steals. He was one of six Celtics to hit multiple 3-pointers while going 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. All five Celtics starters scored in double figures as Boston shot 51.2% from the field and 53.7% from 3-point range on 22-of-41 shooting.
Mitchell led Cleveland’s rally, finishing with 35 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. Mobley added 22 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal.
Darius Garland, whose emergence as one of the league’s best guards helped spark Cleveland’s start, had a miserable shooting night. He shot 3-of-21 from the field and missed all six of his 3-point attempts to go with eight points and seven assists.
Entering the game, the Cavs hit 15.5 three-pointers per game at a league-best 41.9% clip, going 10-of-29 (34.5%) from long range.
That added up to a strong showing and the Celtics’ statement that they remain a major force in the league. The icing on the Celts’ cake? The game was part of the NBA Cup and reversed an 0-2 start in group play after Boston lost its Cup opener to the Hawks last week.
For the Cavaliers, the historic streak is coming to an end. Cleveland’s 15-0 start is tied with the 1993-94 Houston Rockets and the 1948-49 Washington Capitols for second best in NBA history. Golden State’s 24-0 start to the 2015-16 season sits comfortably as the best ever.
Now at 15-1, the Cavs can move on to the second phase of their season. The unexpected chase for history is gone and the added pressure that comes with each game is released.
And there’s no shame in losing to the Celtics in Boston. They’re not the first quality team to fall victim to this Celtics’ 3-point barrage on their home court.
The next test for the Cavs is how they respond to the reset. Their perfect start has been backed up by advanced analysts suggesting that the 15-0 record was no fluke and that this Cleveland team is a legitimate title contender.
But the championship road goes through Boston until another team proves otherwise. The Cavaliers have four games against the Pelicans, Raptors and Hawks before getting another shot against the Celtics at home on Dec. 1.