The Cleveland Cavaliers' streak of 15 consecutive wins to start the season came to an end with a 120-117 loss to the Boston Celtics, a game in which the Cavaliers failed to sustain their momentum despite a strong late comeback attempt.
The loss marked a significant moment in NBA history, as Cleveland's undefeated streak tied with that of the 1993-94 Houston Rockets and 1948-49 Washington Capitols as the second-longest undefeated streak to start a season, but fell short of gaining sole possession of that spot.
Celtics Dominate From the Start
The Boston Celtics improved their record to 12-3 with the win, and the game unfolded with the Celtics dominating early. They established a 17-point halftime lead, a lead built largely on a barrage of three-pointers, with Boston hitting 14 of its first 22 attempts from beyond the arc.
By the third quarter, the Celtics' lead was as high as 21 points, fueled by an outstanding performance from Jayson Tatum and solid contributions from several players. Boston's efficient shooting and strong defense seemed to give them complete control of the game, but the Cavaliers did not give up.
Cleveland mounted an intense comeback, fueled by an 18-3 run in the final minutes of the third quarter. Although the Cavaliers managed to cut the lead to just two points on five different occasions, they were never able to tie the game or regain the lead, with their offensive struggles preventing a complete comeback.
Despite the close score at the end, the Celtics' superior depth and performance was evident for much of the game, as Boston's starters held the advantage while their bench was more vulnerable.
This loss had consequences beyond the win-loss record for the Cavaliers. Not only did it affect their regular season standing, but also their NBA Cup standings.
With the Celtics now controlling their pool in the NBA Cup, the Cavaliers will need a Boston loss or a favorable tiebreaker against other Eastern Conference teams to advance to the Knockout Stage, making this loss a crucial blow to Cleveland's playoff aspirations.
Determining Factors in the Defeat
Several factors contributed to Cleveland's inability to secure the victory. Darius Garland's shooting struggles were a key problem; he finished the game with only 3 hits out of 21 attempts, which was a significant drag on the Cavaliers' offense.
In addition, Cleveland's defense in the first half was poor, allowing Boston to build a sizable lead that the Cavaliers were unable to overcome. Despite several opportunities to capitalize, Cleveland could not find the rhythm necessary to turn the game around.
From a bench perspective, Boston's reserves were not particularly effective. Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta all had point differentials of -13 or worse, and those lineups allowed the Cavaliers to get close on the scoreboard.
However, Boston's full rotation, which includes key players such as Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford, would likely show no such vulnerabilities in future high-pressure games.
Cleveland took advantage of these weaker bench moments, especially attacking Queta, a player who is unlikely to figure in Boston's playoff rotation.
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- Betcris (@Betcris) November 19, 2024
Final Reflections
From a strategic standpoint, Cleveland's offense struggled to create effective opportunities against Boston's starting lineup. Even with its key players, including sharpshooter Sam Merrill, Cleveland could not find consistent success against the Celtics' defensive schemes.
While the Cavaliers did a good job of taking advantage of Boston's bench lineups during certain stretches, relying on such vulnerabilities may not be sustainable in crucial games, where key Boston players would see more minutes.
Cleveland will need to address their offensive inefficiencies against elite defenses as they prepare for the playoffs, as the return of their absent players alone may not be enough to fully address these issues.
