Celtics Fall to Cleveland 116-86 in Game 3
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Boston only turned the ball over 14 times combined in the first two games of the series.
“They were great. We were clearly not the harder-playing, more connected team tonight,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens in his post-game press conference.
The Celtics still lead the series 2-1 with game four set for Monday.
Celtics Blown Out
The Cavaliers would take control right from the opening tip, taking a 20-4 lead with 5:03 left to play in the first quarter following a three from LeBron James.
Boston would not get closer than 14 points and would trail by 20, 61-41, at the half.
The Cavaliers would cruise in the second half, leading by as much as 30 points with just over six minutes to play in the game.
James led all scorers with 27 points and 12 assists.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 18 points, while Terry Rozier followed up with 13.
Road Trouble
With the loss in game three, the Celtics are now 1-5 on the road in the playoffs.
Boston lost three games to Milwaukee in the first round, one game to Philadelphia in the second and game three to Cleveland.
"In my 11 years as a head coach, I probably haven't talked about road and home five times with our team. If you start talking about that, you find excuses in both places,” said Stevens after the game.
By comparison, the 2008 championship Celtics team dropped their first six road games en route to the title.
Game 4 Upcoming
The Celtics and Cleveland will play game four on Monday, May 21 in Cleveland.
Game time is set for 8:30 p.m.
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