Jaylen Brown has 23 points, Jayson Tatum 20 as Celtics win

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 23 factors and Jayson Tatum had 20 in his second sport again from a torn proper Achilles, lifting the Boston Celtics to a 109-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a battle of Japanese Convention contenders on Sunday afternoon.

Brown additionally had 9 rebounds and eight assists because the Celtics constructed an 81-55 lead within the third quarter, sweeping their three-game season collection with Cleveland. Tatum scored six factors within the fourth, ending 6 of 16 from the sector in 27 minutes.

Payton Pritchard added 18 factors and Baylor Scheierman had 16 factors and 10 rebounds as Boston moved inside three video games of East-leading Detroit. Neemias Queta grabbed 11 boards.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 factors and Evan Mobley had 24 factors and eight rebounds for the fourth-place Cavaliers, who had received a season-high seven straight at residence. James Harden had 19 factors and 10 assists.

Cleveland, which is 22-9 since Dec. 29, pulled inside 94-86 halfway by the fourth on Jaylon Tyson’s 3-pointer. Pritchard answered with a 3-pointer and tacked on back-to-back hoops to revive the Celtics’ double-digit lead.

Tatum scored 14 factors in his first 12 minutes, serving to Boston take a commanding 48-29 benefit within the second. The Celtics went up 56-35 later within the interval on two free throws from Brown, aided by Cleveland capturing 2 of twenty-two on 3-pointers within the first half.

Cavaliers middle Jarrett Allen didn’t play after injuring his proper knee Tuesday towards Detroit, however coach Kenny Atkinson stated he was “trending higher.” Mitchell noticed his first motion since straining his proper groin on Feb. 24.

Boston, which started a three-game highway journey, will likely be with out middle Nikola Vucevic for no less than a month after he underwent surgical procedure on his fractured proper ring finger Saturday.

Celtics: Go to San Antonio on Tuesday.

Cavaliers: Host Philadelphia on Monday.