The Celtics outlasted a feisty Cavaliers team that was without Donovan Mitchell to claim a 109-102 victory and a 3-1 series lead.
Here are the takeaways.
1. When it was clear Mitchell wouldn’t play, there were two immediate reactions from Celtics fans.
The first: The Celtics, who won 23 games by 20 or more points this season and who largely took care of business against overmatched teams, should romp.
The second: The Celtics, who constantly played down to their competition last year, were clearly about to blow this golden opportunity to take a 3-1 lead.