CLEVELAND — It’s hard to tell whether the Boston Celtics were due to underperform in a big game or if old demons have yet to be exorcised.
Perhaps they were looking ahead to a showdown and possible Finals preview with the champion Denver Nuggets, or maybe they relaxed just a bit against the pesky Cleveland Cavaliers, who were without Donovan Mitchell and later, Evan Mobley.
The Celtics still own the league’s best record by a country mile, and still look every bit as formidable as many expect they will when the playoffs begin next month.