Cavs Vs Celtics This Season

NBA Playoffs: Celtics Pummel Cavaliers in Game 1, Donovan Mitchell Shines

Subheadline: Boston Shows No Signs of Rust, Jaylen Brown Leads the Charge

Top Performers and Key Stats

The Boston Celtics opened their NBA Playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a resounding 120-95 victory in Game 1. Jaylen Brown set the tone for the Celtics, scoring a team-high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, while Derrick White added 23 points off the bench.

Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Cavaliers with 22 points, but the Celtics held him to just 7-of-22 shooting from the field. The Celtics also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Cavaliers 48-33, including 18 offensive boards.

Five Takeaways

1. The Celtics are in midseason form. After a brief respite following the regular season, the Celtics showed no signs of rust, playing with the same intensity and execution that they displayed throughout the year.
2. Jaylen Brown is the leader of this team. With Jason Tatum struggling from the field, Brown stepped up and led the Celtics' offense in Game 1. His ability to create his own shot and get to the basket was essential to Boston's success.
3. Derrick White is a game-changer. White has been a revelation for the Celtics since being acquired from the San Antonio Spurs at the trade deadline. He provides a much-needed scoring boost off the bench and his defense has been equally impressive.
4. The Cavaliers will need to make adjustments. While Mitchell played well in Game 1, the rest of the Cavaliers' offense struggled. They will need to find a way to get more consistent production from their supporting cast if they want to compete in this series.
5. The Celtics are the clear favorites. The Celtics have home court advantage, the more talented roster, and the momentum. The Cavaliers will need to play near-perfect basketball to pull off an upset in this series.