Despite Donovan Mitchell's absence due to injury, the Cavaliers show resilience but fall 109:102 to the Celtics, who now lead the series 3-1.
On May 14, 2024, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced a challenging Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals without their star player Donovan Mitchell, who sat out due to a strained left calf. Despite a promising start and a third-quarter lead, the Cavaliers could not sustain their momentum, ultimately losing to the Boston Celtics 109:102. The Celtics, leveraging their regular season top record, now hold a 3-1 series advantage, looking to clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference finals in Game 5, scheduled for Thursday, Taiwan time.
Mitchell, who was visibly limping in the final quarter of Game 3, was sidelined after today's injury report confirmed a left calf strain—a new concern for the Cavaliers' key player. His absence was deeply felt, especially as he missed the team's morning shootaround.
The Cavaliers still put up a spirited fight in the first half, hitting 11 three-pointers with LeBron James, a former Cavaliers star and current free agent, watching from the sidelines. Despite trailing 30:37 at the end of the first quarter, they managed to keep close with a 57:62 halftime score. Darius Garland briefly gave them a lead in the third quarter at 65:64.
The Celtics responded strongly, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White spearheading a counterattack to regain and extend their lead to 88:78 by the end of the third quarter. Though the Cavaliers narrowed the gap to five points several times in the fourth quarter, Brown's crucial perimeter shots helped secure the Celtics their third win of the series by a margin of seven points.
The Celtics' offensive efforts were led by Jayson Tatum, who scored a game-high 33 points, followed by Brown with 27 points. Grande emerged as the top performer for the Cavaliers with 30 points.
LeBron James, who is set to become a free agent this summer and previously led the Cavaliers to their sole championship in 2016, was present at the game. Accompanied by his wife and agent Rich Paul, James received a warm reception from the crowd, his appearance on the big screen during a timeout drawing cheers and applause.
As the playoffs heat up, fans and bettors are turning to platforms like Nice88 for real-time updates and betting options. Nice88 offers a comprehensive suite of services, including user-friendly login processes through nice88.ph login or nice88.com login, and seamless app experiences with options like nice88 app download or nice88 app login download, ensuring fans can engage with the action no matter where they are.
2024/05/14, picture citation source Associated Press