Cavs: Cleveland proves their mettle in comeback against the Celtics

Cavs successfully reemerged from the abyss

The Cleveland Cavaliers found a way to dig out of a deep hole in the third quarter and force an unlikely 91-89 comeback win over the Boston Celtics. Despite figuring in a slow start, the Cavs managed to finesse their way to a second consecutive victory.

Darius Garland continued to star for the Cavaliers with 22 points and six assists, partnering with rookie Evan Mobley remained spectacular with 19 points, nine boards, three blocks, and two steals in the massive comeback.

Coming off their best defensive effort where they held the Detroit Pistons to just 11 points in a quarter, Cleveland was once again able to lean on that end of the floor, especially after going under by 19 points late in the third period.

The Cavaliers then went on a 38-17 run the rest of the way to close out the Celtics in front of a raucous, sold-out Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse crowd.

Boston’s Dennis Schroeder led all scorers in the game as he waxed hot with 28 points, but forward Jayson Tatum was made to work for his 21 markers after being forced to shoot just 36 percent from the field in the loss.

Cavs will look to notch third-straight win in homestand

Despite only being favored to win one matchup in all 14 games played, the Cavaliers have now improved to a 9-5 record for the season. Losing many of those games was certainly a reality, but the team’s new underdog, us-against-the-world mentality disproved the pundits.

After losing a handful of contests late in games to open the season, the young squad did just enough to keep themselves in the game and steal the win in the final minutes, just as they did against Toronto more than a week ago.

In their first (technically) nationally televised game of the season, the Cavs displayed their mettle for everyone to see. Just like Darius Garland said, opposing teams can not simply “come to Cleveland and roll over us anymore.”

Meanwhile, regardless of the early-season struggles, the Celtics are still an objectively better team than both the Cavaliers and their record suggests and can just as easily turn the table around when the two teams meet again for their second encounter of a back-to-back.

It is also worth noting that both teams are currently dealing with the injury bug, with Cleveland still missing key cogs Collin Sexton, Kevin Love, and Lauri Markkanen, while Boston played without All-Star guard Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, and Josh Richardson.

But the Cavs have displayed tremendous fortitude time and time again this season, with every guy stepping up to the plate and delivering when their number is called, proving that these “dogs” indeed have more bite than bark.

That will be tested once more when the Cavaliers host the Celtics in the rematch on Monday.