Mitchell was sidelined with a left calf strain

Jayson Tatum tallied 33 points, while Jaylen Brown contributed 27, propelling the Boston Celtics to a 109–102 victory over the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of their NBA playoff series. With this win, the Celtics hold a commanding 3–1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup, with a chance to clinch the series on Wednesday in Boston.

Cleveland faced a significant challenge in the absence of Donovan Mitchell, who was sidelined due to a calf strain. Mitchell had been averaging 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in Cleveland’s first 10 postseason games, essentially serving as a one-man offensive force. The pivotal question for Game 4 revolved around whether others could step up to compensate for his absence.

Jarrett Allen’s absence continued for Cleveland, as he missed his seventh consecutive game due to a right rib contusion. Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis sat out his fifth straight game for the Celtics with a calf injury, though there’s optimism as he engaged in light court activity prior to Game 4.

The Cavaliers showcased a commendable team effort to compensate for their star player’s absence. Darius Garland delivered his standout performance of the series, scoring 30 points and dishing out seven assists. Evan Mobley contributed 19 points and nine rebounds, while Caris LeVert and Max Strus each added 19 and 15 points, respectively. Strus also tallied seven rebounds and seven assists but fouled out with 1:15 left in the game.

Cleveland surged ahead to a 65–64 lead in the third quarter. However, despite their efforts, including limited bench production with only 17 points, the team struggled to maintain momentum.

Jrue Holiday netted 17 points, shooting 4 for 8 from beyond the arc, while Payton Pritchard contributed 11 points off the bench for the Celtics, connecting on 3-of-4 attempts from long range.

Cavs finally have 3-point breakthrough

Cleveland has struggled with their outside shooting throughout the playoffs. However, with Mitchell sidelined and the need for scoring to come from various players, the Cavaliers found success from beyond the arc early in the first quarter. Strus made both of his attempts, and Sam Merrill went 2 for 3, while Mobley and Georges Niang each connected on their sole attempts.

This boosted the Cavaliers’ scoring to 30 points in the quarter, keeping them within seven points of Boston. Despite this, Garland’s postseason inconsistency persisted as he remained scoreless in the first quarter.