Celtics-Cavaliers Game 1 Live Blog: Cavs Win 113-100, Take 1-0 Series Lead
BOSTON (CBS) -- Follow along for all the updates from Celtics-Cavaliers Game 1!
Final -- Cavaliers 113, Celtics 100: The Cavaliers win Game 1, and there is confetti falling from the sky at The Q. Not sure why, but they got the win today so they can enjoy it however they want.
Read: Game 1 Recap
The Celtics came out with a great effort in the first quarter, but the Cavaliers took over in the second quarter and never looked back. Kyrie Irving led the way for the Cavs, scoring 30 points off 11-for-21 shooting, including five three pointers, in his first career playoff game.
James was his normal self, scoring 20 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists.
Avery Bradley and Evan Turner both struggled for Boston, combining for just 19 points off 7-for-22 shooting. But it was more than just two players struggling for Boston.
Cleveland out-rebounded Boston 46-34, pulling down 15 offensive boards to Boston's seven.
Overall it could have been a lot worse for Boston, but they'll will have to come out with a much better effort Tuesday night in Game 2 or will head back to Boston in a 2-0 series hole. But expect Brad Stevens to have them ready to go, and they'll be ready to put up another fight.
4th Quarter, 0:38: James and Irving hit the bench to a standing ovation. The two scored 50 points this afternoon.
4th Quarter, 2:14: Mosgov just blocked an Olynyk attempt, sending the Celtics into a timeout as they trail by 13.
Out of the timeout, Avery Bradley air-mailed a three, pretty much summing up the afternoon for Boston.
4th Quarter, 3:15 -- Cavaliers 111, Celtics 98: Kevin Love drains a corner three, giving him 19 points and 12 rebounds for the game.
Cleveland is 13-for-30 from behind the arc, which has been a huge advantage for them in this one.
4th Quarter, 4:13 -- Cavaliers 106, Celtics 96: After an Evan Turner 3-point play, the Celtics are back within 10.
LeBron tried to hit Mosgov on an alley-oop, if you can call it that, leading to a nice fast break by Boston.
This is the closest they've been in the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter, 6:07 -- Cavaliers 102, Celtics 89: It looks like the Celtics want to send Thompson to the line whenever they get a chance, employing a bit of a "Hack A Thompson" technique.
But the Cavs big man hit one of two free throws at the line, and quickly checked out.
4th Quarter, 7:16 -- Cavaliers 100, Celtics 86: It's the Kyrie Irving Show today.
After an Isaiah Thomas three cut Cleveland's lead to 12, the Cavs guard hit a jumper while getting fouled to put the Cavs back on top by 15.
Irving is up to 27 points for the game. Thomas has 20 for the Celtics off the bench.
4th Quarter, 8:48 -- Cavaliers 96, Celtics 81: Three straight misses for Boston, who is 2-for-5 with a pair of fouls to start the quarter. Marcus Smart missed a pair of free throws as well, so things aren't going well for Boston to start the game's final frame.
End Of 3rd Quarter -- Cavaliers 91, Celtics 76: After Boston's 14-0 run, the Cavs scored nine straight of their own to get their lead back to double digits.
For the second straight quarter the Cavs closed things with a three-pointer to beat the buzzer. This time it was James Jones knocking down the shot to give Cleveland a 91-76 lead.
Irving leads the way 25 points entering the game's final frame, but the good news is he's missed a few threes.
3rd Quarter, 2:06 -- Cavaliers 82, Celtics 74: And all of a sudden the Celtics are back in this one after a 12-0 run.
Boston got a nice three-point play by Jae Crowder (including an offensive rebound!), and the run has been capped off by a Thomas three-pointer to make it 82-74 Cavaliers.
The Celtics did their damage with LeBron getting a breather on the bench.
3rd Quarter, 3:45: LeBron just bumped knees with Jerebko and limped off the court during a timeout, but appears to be OK.
3rd Quarter, 4:10 -- Cavaliers 82, Celtics 62: An 11-2 run by the Cavs has Cleveland up by 20, and the Celtics are in danger of getting blown out in this one.
After struggling to score in the first half, Love is now up to 14 points in the game. He's got yet another double-double with 12 rebounds, including three offensive boards.
3rd Quarter, 6:45 -- Cavaliers 73, Celtics 60:
Kevin Love pulled down another Cleveland offensive rebound, their 14th of the game, and put in an easy layup to give the Cavs a 13-point advantage.
The Celtics have 18 total rebounds in this one.
3rd Quarter, 8:29 -- Cavaliers 71, Celtics 58: A 7-0 Cavaliers run has Boston in their biggest hole of the afternoon.
Kyrie Irving drained another three (he's a perfect 5-for-5 from downtown), and LeBron had a nice layup to give Cleveland a 13 points lead. The Cavs are doing what they want with relative ease.
Celtics better wake up soon, or this one could get really out of hand.
3rd Quarter, 11:21: Kevin Love just hit a pair of free throws, though we're not sure why he was at the line.
It didn't appear like Brandon Bass's foul was a shooting foul, but regardless, Love was at the line. About par for the course with the refs today.
Halftime -- Cavaliers 62, Celtics 54: The Cavaliers took hold of this one by outscoring Boston 35-23 in the second quarter. Kyrie Irving capped off Cleveland's scoring with a three-pointer at the buzzer, giving him 20 points for the game. He's a perfect 4-for-4 from downtown and 7-for-11 from the floor.
James was "limited" to 13 points and five assists in the first half, while J.R. Smith chipped in with nine points and four rebounds.
The Celtics aren't out of it by any stretch, but played very poorly in the game's second frame. They struggled to hit shots and rebound the ball for a four-minute stretch, and their eight-point lead turned into a nine-point deficit really quick. Boston turned over the ball six times in the second quarter, after just one in the first, with the Cavs scoring eight points off those miscues.
We'll see what adjustment Brad Stevens makes at half.
2nd Quarter, 2:19 -- Cavaliers 55, Celtics 48: The Celtics had gone four minutes without a field goal before Jonas Jerekbo knocked down a deep two.
But the Cavs are starting to take control of this one, with LeBron sending down a monstrous slam off a Boston turnover.
The Cavaliers are out-rebounding Boston 25-13, with 10 offensive rebounds to Boston's one. Thompson has four offensive rebounds alone.
2nd Quarter, 4:23 -- Cavaliers 49, Celtics 42: Isaiah Thomas just played some nice D on Irving, but the Cavs point guard drained a tough corner three to extend Cleveland's lead to seven.
Irving leads all scorers with 14 points.
2nd Quarter, 5:31 -- Cavaliers 44, Celtics 42: On their next defensive trip down the court, it was Turner on James, and the results were the same. James drove to the basket for an easy two, giving the Cavs a 44-42 lead.
To make matters worse, Kelly Olynyk picked up his third foul when Kevin Love drew a charge.
2nd Quarter, 6:17 -- Cavaliers 42, Celtics 40: Marcus Smart is now on James, and made a nice swat at the ball before LeBron drove strong to the basket for a layup to give Cleveland the lead.
2nd Quarter, 8:30 -- Celtics 38, Cavaliers 37: Here come the Cavs.
Back to back three pointers by Irving and Smith have Cleveland back within one, with Stevens calling a timeout after Smith's make.
2nd Quarter, 10:01 -- Celtics 37, Cavaliers 31: The Celtics built their lead to eight thanks to a nice 5-point run by Marcus Smart. First he put in a nice driving layup, and then hit a three to give Boston a 37-29 advantage.
LeBron hit a five-footer to make it a six-point game, but the Celtics have been much more aggressive in attacking the basket so far, and it's paying off big time.
End of 1st Quarter, Celtics 31, Cavaliers 27: Not a bad start for the Celtics postseason, as they hold on to a slight edge over the Cavaliers after the first period.
Kelly Olynyk was a huge spark off the bench, scoring 10 points in six minutes. Thomas has six more points off the bench. Zeller leads Boston's starters with six points, and Tuner has chipped in with five.
The Celtics shooting unit had lots of success against Cleveland in the first quarter, and Boston is shooting 12-for-21 from the floor.
Kyrie Irving leads Cleveland scorers with eight points, while LeBron has five points and a pair of assists. Kevin Love has been held scoreless so far with just one rebound, but Cleveland is winning the battle on the glass, 11-8.
But overall a very good start for the Celtics.
1st Quarter, 2:07: LeBron James just swatted away an Isaiah Thomas layup attempt, a clear goaltend for anyone not named LeBron James.
The officials also missed a call on LeBron earlier, which would have been his second foul of the game, so hopefully this isn't going in the direction we all fear. The refs look scared to call another one on LeBron.
It's OK though, as Thomas made a jumper off the following Celtics possession to give Boston a 26-22 lead.
1st Quarter, 3:18 -- Celtics 22, Cavaliers 22: Celtics fans have to be very pleased with the start of this one. The Celtics are going inside and attacking the basket, which has opened up the floor for some three-pointers as well.
Kelly Olynyk had a nice stretch of back-to-back hoops, making a nice driving layup and following it up with a nice corner three (off a nice drive and pass by Turner) to put Boston on top 16-13. He had another nice driving dunk off a Thomas feed a few minutes later, giving Boston a 22-17 edge. Olynyk has seven points in just three minutes off the bench, and it just so happens to be his 24th birthday today.
But the Cavaliers fought back with a five points in the last 20 seconds, causing Brad Stevens to burn a timeout with 3:18 to go in the quarter. James Jones made a three and Thompson had a nice jumper to tie everything at 22-22.
1st Quarter, 5:59 -- Celtics 11, Cavaliers 11: Turner gets a nice feed from Thomas, and drains a corner three to knot everything up 11-11, prompting a Cavaliers timeout.
It's Turner's first make of the game, as he's 1-for-3 from the floor. Zeller still leads the way for Boston with six points.
But just before the timeout, Kelly Olynyk was whistled for a foul on Tristan Thompson, Boston's sixth team foul.
1st Quarter, 6:37 -- Cavaliers 10, Celtics 8: Lots of whistles in this one so far, as Boston picked up their fifth team foul.
Zeller hit J.R. Smith on his way to the basket, and picked up his second foul of the game. The Cavs have four team fouls, with LeBron and Love each picking up one of the game's first five minutes.
Isaiah Thomas is now in for the Celtics.
1st Quarter, 7:53 -- Celtics 8, Cavaliers 7: The Celtics are hanging around early on, led by six points from former Cavalier Tyler Zeller.
Evan Turner drew the defense with a nice drive in the paint and hit Zeller for an easy two to put Boston on top again, 8-7. It's the sixth lead change of the game.
1st Quarter, 11:24: Evan Turner draws defensive duties against LeBron to start this one.
Pregame: With tip off is just a few minutes away, here are the starting lineups for both teams:
Celtics: Marcus Smart - Avery Bradley - Evan Turner - Brandon Bass - Tyler Zeller
Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving - J.R. Smith - LeBron James - Kevin Love - Timofey Mozgov
Pregame: The Q is sporting a new banner ahead of Game 1:
It's cute that the Cavaliers celebrate a division title, but that's Cleveland for you.
Meanwhile, in Boston....
Pregame: The NBA playoffs have arrived, and after just one year away, the Boston Celtics are back in on the fun.
Brad Stevens led his Celtics to 15 more wins than last season, finishing the season 40-42, giving Boston the seventh-seed in the Eastern Conference and setting up a first-round matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Game 1 of the series gets underway just after 3pm at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
The Celtics split their regular season series with the Cavaliers, 2-2, though both of those wins came when the Cavs were resting for the postseason. Cleveland's two wins were in convincing fashion, erasing an 18-point deficit in Boston and blowing out the Celtics in Cleveland, 110-79.
With LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love leading the way, the Cavaliers are among the favorites to win it all this season. Not many are giving Boston much of a chance in this series, with most of the predictions having the series ending after four or five games.
Read: A New Chapter In Celtics' Postseason Rivalry With LeBron
No, the Celtics aren't likely going to win the series. But that doesn't mean they're not going to put up a fight. Boston went 24-12 to close the season, one of the best records over the final 10 weeks of the regular season. The Cavaliers also put together an impressive stretch heading into the playoffs, going 23-9 since the start of February.
The Celtics can gain some valuable experience over the next 4-7 games, with Stevens getting his first taste of the NBA playoffs. This is a great opportunity for the Celtics head coach to plan for one team over the course of a series -- and it just so happens to be the team Boston will likely have to get by in the future if they want to make any noise in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how he game plans for LeBron and company, and how he makes adjustments not just during games, but from game-to-game as well.
Read: 5 Matchups To Watch
In addition to Stevens, the young Celtics roster will gain some experience from this series. Avery Bradley and Brandon Bass both have playoff experience with Boston, while Jae Crowder (Mavericks), Evan Turner (Pacers and 76ers) and Gerald Wallace (a handful of teams) have experience elsewhere, but that's it for this relatively young roster. These next few games will be good opportunities for the likes of Jared Sullinger, Tyler Zeller and rookie Marcus Smart, who are all green behind the ears in regards to postseason experience.
Stick with CBSBostonsports.com for all the updates throughout the game!
Hear every game of the Celtics postseason on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the Boston Celtics. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to every game.
