The defending champions slipped up big time. The Boston Celtics held a 22-point lead against the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. Both teams had some incredible performers. However, the Cavs’ unrelenting aggression saw them chip off the deficit and tie the season series between the powerhouses. The game shifted gears in the second half. Yet, for Jaylen Brown, the tempo switched after a flop.

Brown was part of the scorers who unleashed himself tonight. He scored 37 points, never switching off from the game. The third quarter though, looked to be the quarter the Finals MVP would put the game away. He had scored 8 points in five minutes and the Celtics led by 14. And then the momentum switched sides.

Jaylen Brown was called for an offensive foul when going for a rebound against Darius Garland. It being his fourth, forced Mazzulla to take him out of the game. And the Celtics forward is convinced that’s where the Shamrocks lost their hold on the game. “I think that changed the game. I got an offensive foul call on the rebound where I felt like it was just in the paint going for the basketball and that kind of shifted the game for sure .It is what it is you know. Wish we can get it back. I don’t think it was a foul, don’t think it was an offensive foul but you know when these little guys flop you know they just inclined to call it,” Brown explained.

Being in foul trouble, Brown didn’t check back into the fourth quarter. Not having his physicality and grit on the floor, the 14-point lead melted to just three by the end of the quarter. So, yes, Brown going out did give the Cavaliers a moment to capitalize. And all credit to them, they took it with both hands.

With the pendulum swinging in their direction, the Cavaliers carried their confidence into the fourth quarter. It ended with a seven-point lead. But this game had more than just a possible flop that turned the tides.

Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers’ stellar recovery vs Jaylen Brown and Co.

Both the Cavaliers and the Celtics have two of the best defenses in the league. But both of them cracked in the first half. Either of the teams shot the ball with purity. They converted over half of their three-pointers and barely turned the ball over. However, only one of them managed to recover.

That would be the Cleveland Cavaliers. They took away the Celtics’ primed weapon. Their three-point shot didn’t come without a smothering contest or hardcore defense. The reigning champions only shot 3 of 13 from beyond the arc. At that same time, the Cavaliers’ offense just kept putting the blocks together.

Or at least Donovan Mitchell went nuclear to stage a 22-point fightback. Spida Mitchell scored a team-high 41 points which was also his season-high. Mitchell played 35 minutes and shot an efficient 13-of-26 (50.0%) from the field, including 5-of-12 (41.7%) from three-point range. Clearly, Mitchell was at the frontline of the comeback. In the decisive second half, he scored 26 points, attacking with his deep arsenal.

The Celtics not having Jrue Holiday may have hurt. However, Jayson Tatum matched Mitchell throughout the game, scoring 46 points on great efficiency. But aside from White and Brown, no other Celtic scored in double digits. The Cavaliers had five double-digit scorers. Their bench outscored the Celtics 33-6.

The matchup stands even in the regular season. And if there’s anything that fans want is another enthralling contest between these two. It’s likely to be if they make deep postseason runs. Both sides have to settle the scores. But if it came down to it, who would you put your money on?