Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland was fully packed on Sunday night with more than 20,000 fans that came to see their Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs hosted the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their Eastern conference finals matchup with Cleveland taking the first two games on the road and leading the series 2-0.
Entering Sunday's game the Cavaliers had won four straight home games and were yet to lose this postseason holding a perfect 10-0 record. Boston was shorthanded in this one as they were playing without its leading scorer Isaiah Thomas who was sidelined due to a hip injury.
Marcus Smart started at the point guard position as a result of Thomas' absence.
Big second half by the Celtics
Cleveland started off the game with an early 20-10 lead and had a 35-24 lead after the first 12 minutes of the game. They were clicking on all cylinders in that big first quarter as they made 9 three-pointers in the period. Midway through the second quarter, the Cavaliers had a 16-point lead at 56-40 and at halftime, the score was 66-50 for the home team.
Cavs' biggest lead of the game was 21 points early in the third quarter (77-56) but from that point on, the Celtics started their big comeback. Boston outscored Cleveland 32-21 in the third period and had a five-point deficit (87-82) heading into the fourth quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 99-99 as teams went back-and-forth and traded baskets in the final minutes of the game. With the score tied at 108-108 and with just 10 seconds remaining in the game, Boston had the last possession of the regulation.
They drew up an excellent play for Avery Bradley out of the timeout that got him an almost uncontested three-point attempt.
He rose for the shot and connected to give the Celtics a 111-108 win as time expired. Boston shot 18-for-40 from behind the arc and finished with 28 team assists. The Celtics forced the Cavaliers into 16 turnovers.
Marcus Smart leads the way for Boston
With Isaiah Thomas not playing for the Celtics it was Marcus Smart who led them in scoring in Game 3.
He finished with 27 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Smart was 7-for-10 from the three-point line. Avery Bradley contributed with 20 points and four assists while Al Horford finished with 16 points and six assists.
Kyrie Irving was the leading scorer for Cleveland on Sunday night. Irving finished the game with 29 points and added seven assists. Kevin Love scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while J.R.Smith contributed with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Cleveland holds a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 to be played on Tuesday night in Cleveland.
