Donovan Mitchell carries Cavaliers past Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics in fourth quarter
Donovan Mitchell’s explosive fourth-quarter performance left fans in awe, as the Cavaliers outscored the Celtics 43-27, flipping the script on Boston’s usual three-point advantage.
John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal breaks down the game, spotlighting Mitchell’s clutch plays and the strategic decisions that defined the matchup. Discover how Darius Garland’s defensive role evolved under Kenny Atkinson’s guidance and the unexpected impact of Drew Peterson’s extended minutes. With key players like Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis in the mix, this analysis offers a fresh perspective on the Celtics’ challenges and the Cavaliers’ statement win.
Tune in for an engaging discussion that unpacks the game’s pivotal moments and what they mean for both teams moving forward.
2:30 Mitchell’s Impact
12:16 Attacking Darius Garland & Flipping the math
20:00 Drew Peterson’s Performance
28:00 Cavs’ Confidence Boost
Your favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com.
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
PrizePicks
Download the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $50 instantly when you play $5! You don’t even need to win to receive the $50 bonus, it’s guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA
Robinhood
Robinhood Gold provides the privileges of a high net worth for any net worth. These generous benefits are now available for only $5/month. The new Gold Standard is here with Robinhood Gold. Sign up at robinhood.com/gold.
Chime
Make your fall finances a little greener by working towards your financial goals with Chime. Open your account in 2 minutes at chime.com/NBA.
Chime. Feels like progress.
BetterHelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Rediscover your curiosity with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.
FanDuel
You can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place a FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS – if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCeltics?sid=YouTube
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA
Locked On Celtics is a daily Boston Celtics podcast by Boston Sports Journal beat writer John Karalis. It’s an inside look at the C’s from a former professional basketball player who is at practices & games.
#BostonCeltics #Celtics #NBA #JaysonTatum #JaylenBrown
29 Comments
Respect to Spida. He was a killer tonight. Drew had a great game, I was most impressed with his D.
11 pts straight by Mitchell is crazy if Brown is in the game he will lockdown Spida
Petterson is huge tonight another bench that is needed right now
I hope something happens that makes me forget Tatum hanging on the rim from a failed dunk while the Cavs break out in transition.
I’m sorry this team too good of a team to go on 4 min stretches of not scoring but it happens. Respect to Cavs let’s play again😈
Mitchell now averaging 30.2 ppg against Boston over his career. Only one other player averaged more. MJ with 30.7 Anyway I’m not a fan of the whole “we beat ourselves” phrase but..Jimmy Butler banged up his knee last night so let’s go and take this out on Miami in a big way tonight. 😂Thanks John. ☘️🔒
Does your Celtics championship book have photos from last season?
The only story here is, no Brown or White…congrats to the Cavs tho.
Cleveland did what every team is going to start doing. That mismatch hunting at the end was very, very painful to watch. Just inexcusable
Cleveland definitely played hard, and Mitchell went unconscious, so I'm not upset by the loss, but do think that Joe needs to work on alternate offenses because teams are just going to run the Celts off the 3 point line.
Hope Holliday is okay. Last year with Celts and would love to see him go out with a championship
Lazy expecting to win in the fourth quarter – hopefully a wake up call. There is no universe where they are the best team giving up 40+ point quarters or one where they ever should.
And if SH and DH have this consistently bad offense Celtics will struggle.
Probably very unlikely and just variance.
I been telling y’all that Jrue just isn’t the same anymore this season. 😔
My only issue is Tatum has to finish those two layups. He needs to stop looking for the foul and get over it. He lets the officials bother him way too much. If he wants to be MVP which he is capable of he needs to put his head down and go for the kill. I'm not overly concerned because we really missed White and Browns defense but Cleveland is a threat!
If the Celtics also after developing Pritchard Hauser hit on Peterson that will be insane. Kid plays better defense than I would think and he definitely can shoot threes
Tip the cap to Mitchell, dude went ballistic in the 4th. Depth getting tested amd utilized already, let's see how the ship holds ☘︎🔒
Thanks John for the podcast. I was searching for it last night 😊. I didn’t expect a win with no DW or JB. I agree with you,this loss is not a big deal for the C’s as long as losing doesn’t become a trend. This is the time to try different rotations.
oh now i definitely dont want to go to the knockout rounds if we could possibly play the cavs again I wasnt moved by this loss at all so far in the head to head this season Boston has been the better team for 7 total quarters i would rather see cleveland than indiana in the playoffs
“Darius, you’re good enough, smart enough to, and doggonit, people like you” …John was laughing because he almost said the whole snl reference. #betterhelp
Easy to flip the math on Mazzulla with no JB or Derrick White🙄
First listen 🎧 ☘️
John had to stop the podcast and comment for the first time. You are reading WAY too much into this win. Celtics down 2/4 best players and Mitchell got hot, making sure the Cavs didn’t drop their 3rd straight. That’s it, there’s no narrative or math flipping, no ah-ha moment for Garlands defense.
You’re usually level headed but this and your Grant Williams take from earlier in the season,
Oof.
At the end of March, I looked at the Celtics' records without each of their starting 5. They were .800 or better without each of their starters … except White. They were a .500 team — 3-3 — without White.
I'm a tiny bit concerned that they don't have a solid pass-first facilitator to back up White anymore. Used to be Pritchard, but his shot has been such fire this year, he's understandably looking for his shot now.
This game is on jru he was god awful offensive wise. Coach had to take him out for large chunks. You can't blame him going back to him he was due but is something wrong with jru?
Good point on al. Al didn't get to get going from the top of the key at all. I'd like to see some action with Al not just zingus
I’m sorry I can’t accept the idea that Tatum was “baited” by garland. No. Tatum needs to win that matchup and hit those shots becuase that’s his freaking job! He had a bad fourth, he missed shots he normally makes and got in his feelings with the refs. Any Celtic fan would take a Tatum v garland with no help defense 100 times out of 100 so we can’t just let that one slide. He had a great q1-3 and he lost it in the fourth. It happens.
Usually I agree with John but I couldn’t let that one slide today haha
I feel like at the end of the day the absence of our two best fourth quarter guys was felt most… in the fourth quarter. Had a chance to win, but Tatum didn’t have anything left for the fourth and KP didn’t either. Ultimately not much to take away from this one.
All this game proves for me is that the Cavs can barely hang on against our bench. We had G league guys in the game, no brown or white. They getting cooked come playoffs
stagnant offense leads to losses but great job to Peterson that's what coaches do give young players experience to see what they will do.
Jrue needs to step up
After the loss, I watched a YT vid of JB's poster dunks…. he had a massive one over Spida, the announcers shouted WHOA!!! We missed the gravedigger and the buffalo last night.