The Boston Celtics showcased their strong defense in the fourth quarter to secure a 116-107 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, improving their record to 9-4 in crunch-time situations. The Celtics’ ability to hold off the Cavaliers’ late surge demonstrated their resilience and determination.

With this win, the Celtics maintained their perfect home record at TD Garden, now standing at an impressive 12-0. This victory also completed their two-game sweep of the mini-series against Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz.

The Celtics currently hold a record of 18-5, which places them either in sole possession of the NBA’s best record or sharing it with the Minnesota Timberwolves, depending on the latter’s performance against the Dallas Mavericks.

While Mitchell led all scorers with 31 points, Jayson Tatum contributed 27 points for the Celtics. The balanced Celtics lineup saw all five starters reach double figures, while the Cavaliers had three players achieve the same feat.

The Celtics’ success was a result of their excellent ball movement throughout the game, leading to points off cuts and involving every player on the court. They also capitalized on second-chance scoring, outscoring the Cavaliers in that category, and were effective from the free-throw line. Additionally, Boston’s stout perimeter defense limited Cleveland to just 33.3% shooting from beyond the arc.

This strong defensive performance proved crucial in the low-scoring final quarter, where the Celtics held the Cavaliers to only 20 points while scoring 26 of their own.

Looking back at the game, several key moments stood out. The Celtics started the game with energy and aggression, quickly building a lead and showcasing their athleticism with an alley-oop from Jaylen Brown to Kristaps Porzingis. They continued to control the game in the second quarter, holding the Cavaliers to just one made three-pointer and forcing turnovers.