Three big numbers from Celtics’ streak-busting win over Cavs

Three big numbers from Celtics’ streak-busting win over Cavs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The biggest number from the Boston Celtics’ streak-snapping win over the previously undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night is, rather obviously, 1. The Celtics are now the 1 in Cleveland’s 15-1 record.

But that was far from the only notable digit on the night.

From Al Horford’s timeless defense to Jayson Tatum’s drive total to Jaylen Brown’s desire to match up with Cleveland superstar Donovan Mitchell, here are a few more of our favorite numbers from Tuesday’s NBA Cup showdown:

-14.2

That’s how far below expected field goal percentage that Al Horford held the Cavaliers during his spectacular 31 minutes and 36 seconds of floor time in Tuesday’s win. Cleveland players were a mere 9 of 24 shooting (37.5 percent) when Horford was tagged the primary defender in the NBA’s (imperfect) camera-based stat tracking.

Horford seemingly was everywhere in this game. With the Celtics playing only their second game in six nights, the 38-year-old looked even more spry than he did during a big offensive outing against the Raptors on Saturday.

It all culminated with Horford snagging a defensive rebound midway through the fourth quarter and breaking out in transition like a point guard, setting into motion a crucial Payton Pritchard 3-pointer as the Celtics stiff-armed the Cavs’ second-half charge.

Horford’s defense was stellar in this game. Twice in crunch time he produced big blocks, first chasing Darius Garland all the way to the rim for a swat, then denying a cutting Georges Niang soon after.

Horford finished with a team-high 14 shot contests, more than double any of the other seven Boston players who saw the floor.

The Cavaliers’ effective field goal percentage plummeted with Horford on the court. Cleveland was at 54.8 percent for the game (and 72.4 percent during backup big man Neemias Queta’s floor time). But that number dropped to 46.9 with Horford on the court. Boston’s defensive rating was a team-best 103 during Horford’s floor time. (The Cavs were at 123.2 for the game).

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/three-big-numbers-celtics-streak-173749203.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-11-20 17:39:00

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