Home Basketball The Celtics beat the Cavaliers 116–107, with Jayson Tatum scoring 27 points to help them go 12-0 at home

The Celtics beat the Cavaliers 116–107, with Jayson Tatum scoring 27 points to help them go 12-0 at home

Basketball — 12/15/2023

HOST CITY, Mass. The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics 116–107 on Thursday night. Jayson Tatum scored 27 points and Jaylen Brown scored 22. The Celtics are now 12-0 at home.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0)shoots at the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The Celtics beat the Cavaliers in their second straight game at TD Garden after beating them on Tuesday. This was Boston’s sixth win in seven games overall.

Celtics-Cavaliers takeaways: Jayson Tatum outduels Donovan Mitchell in win – NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics have the best record in the Eastern Conference. Kristaps Porzingis scored 18 points, Jrue Holiday scored 15, and Derrick White scored 14. Tatum grabbed 11 boards, and all five starters scored at least 10 points.

Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points to lead Cleveland. Caris LeVert added 26 points, and Darius Garland scored 19. They have lost three games in a row.

The Celtics took back control after having their double-digit lead cut to three points in the last quarter. With 8 1/2 minutes left, Tatum made a fadeaway and a step-back 3-pointer to start a quick run that made Boston’s lead 101-91.

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Cleveland made one more run, cutting the lead to 107-102 on LeVert’s driving basket with 3:01 left, but Holiday made a layup and Tatum dunk after Cleveland turned the ball over.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) looks for a opening past Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, as Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The Cavaliers were behind by ten points for most of the third quarter and looked a little slow. But Garland gave them a late boost when he sprinted to the basket and made a left-handed scoop. Then, with 0.3 seconds left on the clock, he made a 3 from the top to bring the score to 90-87 after three.

The Celtics got off to a slow start Tuesday, falling behind by 15 points in the first quarter. But today, they moved the ball well, creating many open shots, and made good shots from outside. They took advantage of the Cavaliers’ slow start to go ahead by 14 points on Brown’s 3 from the right corner midway through the second quarter.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) looks to shoot at the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown scores in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston had a 65-54 lead at halftime and shot 56.1% in the first half, making 8 of 17 3-point shots.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives toward the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro, left, defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Mitchell scored 21 points in the first half, but the Cavaliers missed 16 of their 20 three-point shots. In the first half, every Cleveland player except Mitchell made less than half of their shots from the floor.

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, top, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus pursue the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)On Wednesday, Boston made all 26 free throws and on Thursday, they missed 17 of 20.