The Cleveland Cavaliers are still alive! In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James takes care of the Boston Celtics with another sensational performance. The Cavs lose Kevin Love at 109:99 (BOXSCORE) after only five minutes.
Both teams continued to play, so the Celtics stuck to the big lineup with Aaron Baynes, which had worked so well in game 5. In fact, the visitors got off to a better start away for the first time in the series – thanks to Jaylen Brown’s 6 points, Boston led 10-6 early before the match had to be interrupted after a good five minutes because Jayson Tatum and Kevin Love collided and the Cavs forward in particular seemed dazed.
Love had to be treated in the locker room and was replaced earlier than planned by Jeff Green. The game then took off and LeBron James (8) and George Hill (6) provided the early points for the Cavaliers. Boston, however, took full advantage of the Cavs’ frustrating defensive problems and led 25:20 after a quarter, thanks in particular to Brown (15).
After the quarter rest the Celtics without Al Horford first lost their offensive rhythm completely, James led a 20-4 run of his team and Cleveland took the lead after a few minutes, quickly it even grew to 10 points. The Celtics threw the ball away again and again, making it easier for the Cavs-Defense to sort itself out. All in all, the quarter went to Cleveland with 34:18 – 54:43 was the break. During the half-time break the Cavs announced that Love was suspected of having a concussion and that he would not return.
The second half was marked by many fouls on both sides, which Celtics tried to get Tatum finally into the game. Even though their offense increased a bit, Cleveland remained the better team and James controlled the game with a lot of confidence. One minute before the last quarter he went into the game for the first time ever, the Celtics used this to make up at least 3 points. 83:73 it was before the last heat.
The gap quickly became single digits, then Larry Nance fell on LeBron’s leg and it looked like James was in serious trouble. But he stayed on, a few minutes later he extended the lead by himself to 12 points. The Celtics did not give in, just four minutes before the end they scored 7 points again. 2:20 Before the end James increased again by threesome to 10, Tatum answered, then James met with the siren the next threesome – time-out! Another layup by James later the game was decided.
James finished the game with a sensational 46 points (Career High in Elimination Games), 11 rebounds, 9 points, 3 steals and only three ball losses. He got support primarily from Hill (20 points), Green (14) and Nance (10). The best Celtics scorers were Rozier (28 points) and Brown (27), Tatum came in at 15.
By winning, the Cavs forced a seventh game. This takes place in the night from Sunday to Monday in Boston.
Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics 109:99, series 3:3 (BOXSCORE)
Who else would it be? The King almost played through, gave his team everything he had and finally scored some important litters. That he stood on the court for 46:05 minutes, dictated every attack and still only produced 3 turnovers was perhaps the most impressive statistic. You can hardly put this player into words. More is not possible.
In the first quarter Horford acted well as a catalyst for the offense, but afterwards he was almost completely invisible (6 points, 2/8 FG, 9 rebounds) – the Celtics would have needed more of him, especially since he also didn’t look as good defensively as usual a few times. Morris also showed a very mixed performance (10 points, 3/10 FG).
The Cavaliers sent a double team against Horford at almost every posse at the beginning of the game when he posted against Thompson. However, this helped the Celtics – Horford’s overview coupled with Cleveland’s not always good rotations led to Boston getting free litters again and again, especially Brown. As a result, however, Lue adjusted this strategy, now Brown was rather doubled, against Horford there was better single coverage, especially in the person of Nance. That’s another reason why nothing worked out offensively for the Celtics in the second quarter.