Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics live score updates for Game 3 of NBA playoffs
CLEVELAND — The Cavs-Celtics series left Boston tied 1-1.
The Cavaliers responded in a big way to their blowout loss to the Celtics in Game 1 by crushing Boston in Game 2. A 25-point loss was followed by a 24-point win in the first two games of the series, setting the stage for Game 3 Saturday night. After Celtics fans left Game 2 in droves with five minutes to go, Cavs players were excited to see what kind of energy is brought to Cleveland in Games 3 and 4.
In Boston, the Cavs continued their season-long trend of always seeming to play their best basketball right after hitting rock bottom in some way. Now they're being tested to see how long they can keep that going against the No. 1 seed in the East.
Tipoff between the Cavs and Celtics occurred at 8:41 p.m. Saturday.Check back here for live score updates, analysis and highlights throughout Game 3.
Below are updates from the second quarter.
Cavs trail Celtics 57-48 at halftime
The Cavs trailed the Celtics 57-48 at halftime.
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 23 points in the first half. He shot 8 of 12 from the field (6 of 8 on 3-pointers). It was the fourth time this postseason Mitchell has scored 20 or more points in a half. He also became the third player in franchise history to make six or more 3-pointers in a half of a playoff game. Center Evan Mobley added 11 points and five rebounds for the Cavs.
But the Celtics did more damage as a team in the first half than the Cavs. Forward Jayson Tatum led Boston with 18 points and seven rebounds in the first half, followed by point guard Jrue Holiday with 15 points and forward Jaylen Brown with 13 points.
The Celtics shot 22 of 41 (53.7%) from the field (7 of 18 on 3-pointers) in the first half. The Cavs shot 17 of 44 (38.6%) from the floor (8 of 23 on 3-pointers).
The Celtics outrebounded the Cavs 23-18 in the first half. Boston had a 7-2 advantage in second-chance points and a 30-18 edge in points in the paint.
Celtics lead Cavs 47-40 with 5:02 left in the second quarter
The Celtics led 47-38 after a Brown basket with 5:58 left in the first half. The nine-point advantage was Boston's largest of the game thus far.
Point guard Darius Garland made a layup to cut the Cavs' deficit to 47-40, and the Celtics called timeout with 5;02 remaining.
Cavs trail Celtics 42-38 with 6:42 left in the second quarter
The Cavs were behind 42-38 with 6:42 remaining in the second quarter.
Mitchell is keeping the Cavs in this game. He has made both of his 3-pointers in the second quarter thus far.
Below are updates from the first quarter.
Cavs trail Celtics 30-28 at the end of the first quarter
The Cavs trailed the Celtics 30-28 at the end of the first quarter.
Tatum led all scorers with 12 points in the first quarter. His final basket of the opening quarter came with 30 seconds left on a transition layup after he stole an ill-advised pass by Garland.
Mitchell countered with a jump shot with 12 seconds left. Mitchell led the Cavs with 11 points in the first quarter.
The Cavs shot 9 of 20 (45%) from the field (5 of 12 on 3-pointers) in the opening quarter. The Celtics shot 12 of 22 (54.5%) from the floor (5 of 11 on 3-pointers).
The Celtics had a 10-9 advantage in rebounding.
Dean Wade gives Cavs 3-pointer upon returning, but Celtics lead 22-18 with 3:08 left in the first quarter
Backup power forward Dean Wade checked into the game with 4:18 left in the first quarter and made his first shot, a 3-pointer with 3:54 remaining. Wade had not played since March 8. He had been dealing with a sprained knee.
Wade's 3 gave the Cavs an 18-17 edge, but Cleveland used a timeout after back-to-back Boston buckets (a 3 by forward Sam Hauser and a field goal in the paint by forward Jayson Tatum) gave the Celtics a 22-18 advantage.
Celtics lead Cavs 12-11 roughly midway through the first quarter
The Cavs trailed the Celtics 12-11 with 6:32 left in the first quarter.
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell started the game 2-of-3 shooting from 3-point range to give the Cavs an early boost. But the Celtics received the same production, plus another field goal, from Tatum, who had eight points at this juncture.
During the timeout with 6:32 remaining, the Cavs played a Cleveland sports video hype video on their main scoreboard narrated by Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, who owns a minority stake in the Cavaliers.
Below is some pregame information.
Cavs depth chart likely to adjust with Dean Wade's return for Game 3 against Boston Celtics
The Cavaliers will again have Dean Wade available, and while it's unclear how many minutes he'll see in Game 3, there will be at some shift in the Cavs' rotations.
Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted pregame that when Wade is available, the Cavs will still need to be mindful that they're throwing him right into a playoff series after not seeing the floor in quite some time.
Wade's presence, along with Georges Niang's recent play, could lead to the latter seeing fewer minutes than he did in Game 2 in Boston, when he often looked out of sorts. Wade's size and ability to guard multiple positions offers the Cavs more flexibility, something that is especially needed with Jarrett Allen still out with a ribs injury.
The Cavs will also have some flexibility with how they deploy Tristan Thompson and Marcus Morris Sr., though Thompson, especially, played a key role in their Game 2 win after Evan Mobley had to sit with foul trouble in the third quarter.
Cavs vs. Celtics predictions, betting odds for Game 3
For strictly entertainment purposes, the Cavaliers enter Game 3 as 7.5-point home underdogs against the Celtics. They were underdogs of at least 11.5 points in both Games 1 and 2 in Boston. Game 3 has an over-under point total of 210.5. Both of our Cavs writer, Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich, see the Celtics bouncing back to win Saturday. Read more here on why they see Boston going up 2-1 in the series.
What time do the Cavs play today?
Game 3 tips off at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night in Cleveland.
Cavs injury report today: Jarrett Allen will not play in Game 3 vs. Celtics? Dean Wade is available to return
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen will sit out Game 3, the Cavs announced about an hour before tipoff. He will miss his sixth consecutive playoff game with a rib injury that has made it difficult for him to raise his arms above his head in a manner he'd need to play. Allen had been listed as questionable entering Saturday.
Dean Wade, who has fought back from a sprained knee, is available to play in Game 3, the Cavs announced. Wade had also been listed as questionable after missing more than two months.
During J.B. Bickerstaff's pregame media availability, the coach said "we'll see" whether Allen or Wade can face the Celtics.
Minutes later, Wade warmed up on the court. Wade hasn't played since March 8. He has missed the last 28 games, including nine in the playoffs.
Cavs starting lineup tonight in Game 3 vs. Celtics
The Cavs announced they will start the following players against the Celtics:
point guard Darius Garland
shooting guard Donovan Mitchell
small forward Max Strus
power forward Isaac Okoro
center Evan Mobley
Celtics starting lineup tonight in Game 3 vs. Cavs
The Celtics announced they will start the following players against the Cavs:
point guard Jrue Holiday
shooting guard Derrick White
small forward Jaylen Brown
power forward Jayson Tatum
center Al Horford
How can I watch, stream or listen to Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics Game 2?
Saturday night's Game 3 will be televised nationally by ABC. It will be broadcast locally on the radio via WTAM (1100-AM), WMMS (100.7-FM) and WNZN (89.1-FM).
When is Cavaliers-Celtics Game 4?
Game 4 between the Cavs and Celtics is set for 7 p.m. Monday night in Cleveland. The series will then return to Boston for Game 5 at TD Garden at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Cavaliers score vs. Celtics live updates Game 3 NBA playoffs
