BOSTON — About 90 minutes before tipoff, as one of the team busses was stuck in gridlock just outside Boston’s TD Garden, Cavs star Donovan Mitchell unexpectedly appeared on the injury report with hamstring tightness — a late injury that raised questions about his availability for Wednesday’s nationally televised Eastern Conference clash.
Mitchell assuaged any concern about his status close to 6 p.m., telling cleveland.com, “I’m fine.”
Mitchell was (fine enough to play, anyway). Can’t say the same for the Cavs.
They lost to the new-look Celtics Wednesday night, 125-105. The setback snaps Cleveland’s three-game winning streak.
With Mitchell leading the way, the Cavs, who have overtaken the Celtics as conference favorites this season, got off to a sizzling start. They erupted for 42 first-quarter points while hitting 13 of 19 from the field, including 10 of 12 from 3-point range. Mitchell had 12 in the quarter, making all four of his shot attempts.
Despite the early heater, Cleveland clung to a two-point advantage going into the second quarter.
It couldn’t sustain that level of play.
The Cavs managed just 18 points in the second quarter, as the triple-happy Celtics finished the half on a flurry, using a 12-1 run to build a then-game-high 15-point lead. Boston pushed that to 19 in the third quarter — before Cleveland attempted a late rally, cutting the Boston lead to single digits at the 9:46 mark.
The Cavs never got closer than nine.
Mitchell, who had tallied at least 30 points in three of the first four games, mustered just 15 Wednesday night. He scored just three points after the first quarter. None in the second half. He also missed his final seven shot attempts.
In the face of Mitchell’s off night, with sharpshooter Sam Merrill (hip contusion) unavailable and Darius Garland (toe surgery) and Max Strus (foot surgery) still sidelined following offseason surgeries, Cleveland couldn’t generate enough offense to keep pace.
Second-year swingman Jaylon Tyson, who stepped into the starting lineup for Merrill, had 19 points and five rebounds. Evan Mobley added 19 points and 11 rebounds. De’Andre Hunter chipped in with 18 points on 5 of 17 shooting and 3 of 12 from beyond the arc.
Boston’s Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 30 points. Sam Hauser added 21 off the bench, going 7 of 13 from beyond the arc.
In all, the Celtics drilled 21 3s. The Cavs made 17, but went 7 of 40 from deep over the final three quarters.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the conference was considered wide open, with Indiana (last year’s champion) and Boston (the East kings for most of this decade) dealing with injuries and roster changes.
For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum is out with a ruptured Achilles. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday are gone.
But Boston’s not. Not yet. The Cavs learned that the hard way Wednesday.
**Up next**
The Cavs will return home for a matchup with the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
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