The Cleveland Cavaliers rested four of their starters, Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James and Kevin Love. That's also their four biggest scorers this season, suggesting that coach David Blatt not only was ready to let the Celtics have the game, and in effect hand them a playoff spot. He was also looking for answers before the playoffs, like who will step up, if the Cavaliers need something big from the bench.
As might have been expected, the Cavaliers had troubles getting into a rythm from the beginning, while the Celtics jumped ahead to a 9-0 start. David Blatt called a timeout, and Cleveland finally executed a play that gave Timofey Mozgov an open jumper for two points. Tristan Thompson followed with a couple of easy buckets including an and-one layup, and the game was close again.
After that it was an open exchange of short runs, with Cleveland going from 9-13 to 18-13 as the longest. The first quarter ended with a 22-21 lead for the away team.
Boston runs away in the second quarter
The second quarter began with another run for the home team, as they started with two three pointers and three hit free throws after a three point shot by Isaiah Thomas. The Celtics rushed to 36-24 within the first six minutes of the quarter.
The Celtics just kept pushing, and the Cavaliers seemed to lose any momentum. The only advantage that Cleveland held through the first half was rebounding, and shot-blocking. But the lack of playmakers, when Irving and James aren't playing, showed in 12 turnovers with no less than 10 steals for Boston and 20 points off those turnovers. The Celtics as a team only gave up 3 turnovers in the half.
The Celtics won the second quarter 34-9, and went into the locker room with a 55-31 lead.
The game turned into a scrimmage in the second half
The second half started with less energy from the Celtics, and the game started to look more like a scrimmage game with the Celtics trying to execute plays with a lot of passing, but also settling for jump shots. Meanwhile the Cavaliers got a few more plays going themselves - partly because the Celtics defense was one step slower than in the second quarter - and were able to almost keep pace with the Celtics, even though they kept giving up turnovers.
During the third quarter the Celtics got their lead as high as 32 points, and ended it leading 84-55.
The fourth quarter continued as the third, with the Celtics adding a few points to their lead, and with a Luigi Datome-sighting with a little more than seven minutes left, and Phil Pressey entering the game two minutes later.
The Cleveland played a tight rotation with so many of their starters resting, and even had to put Timofey Mozgov back into the game in the fourth quarter, because Kendrick Perkins needed a break.
Even though the Cavaliers had little motivation to win this game, it must have been disappointing that the bench couldn't add more defensive pressure, since the Celtics scored on almost 55 percent of their field goal attempts. That had a lot to do with the Cavaliers' turnovers, though:
The Celtics ended with 20 steals forcing 25 turnovers in all and scoring 36 points from those turnovers. The 20 steals are one shy of the Celtics franchise record and an NBA season high. Only Tyler Zeller, Datome and Pressey didn't record a steal for the Celtics.
Boston had no less than seven players scoring in double figures, led by Isaiah Thomas with 17 points on ten shots, and no active players without at least four points.
For Cleveland it was the expected players who made an impact on offense with Iman Shumpert leading the way with a double-double, 15 points and ten rebounds but also a game-high seven turnovers. Tristan Thompson and James Jones scored 14 points each.
Boston can clinch playoff spot without playing
The Celtics might already have secured their playoff spot, the next time they play. If the Indiana Pacers lose tonight against Oklahoma City Thunder, or the Brooklyn Nets lose tomorrow against the Chicago Bulls, Boston can't be pushed out.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have said, that they will play their starters in the next game, at home against the Detroit Pistons tomorrow night. The Boston Celtics play next at home on Tuesday, against the Toronto Raptors.
