CLEVELAND – Throughout most of the season, scoring in the third quarter hasn’t been that big a deal for the Boston Celtics.
They went into the playoffs as the fourth-best third quarter scoring team at 25.7 points per game.
Now their third quarter scoring defense?
That’s another story, as Boston was the NBA’s second-worst third quarter scoring defensive club in allowing 26.6 points per game.
For the struggles Boston has had in their best-of-seven first round series with Cleveland, poor play in the third quarter has become a first rate problem as Boston returns home down 2-0 after Tuesday’s 99-89 Game 2 loss.
“Third quarters killed us both games,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. “That’s where we’ve been fighting from behind from that point on.”
On Tuesday, Cleveland’s third quarter success was fueled in large part by their ability to get into the bonus early.
Boston Celtics
Cleveland went to the free throw line nine times in the first half, but equaled that free throw tally in the third quarter alone.
When the Cavs weren’t cashing in from the free throw line, they were out running away with quick offensive spurts that Boston struggled with slowing down.
“They’re going to have their runs, but their runs can’t become 9-0 or 11-0 or 13-0 or whatever it is,” Stevens said. “We’ve got to stop them at five or six, and make it a 5-2 run.”
Boston got into early foul trouble in the third quarter which not only put the Cavs in the bonus at the 7:49 mark of the third, but it also took a little bit of the edge defensively that Boston had displayed in the first half.
“And they knew it,” said Boston’s Jae Crowder. “They’re great offensive players and they knew what they were up against; we were in foul trouble and they were going to take advantage of it, drive the ball and force us to make plays or foul them or … get a lay-up.”
Here are the Stars, Studs and Duds from Tuesday night’s game.
STARS
LeBron James
He went into full blown takeover mode in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his game-high 30 points down the stretch.
Kyrie Irving
For the second time in as many games, Boston had major problems containing Irving who had 26 points along with five rebounds and six assists.
Isaiah Thomas
His minutes were slightly down in Game 2 compared to Game 1, but Thomas still managed to score 22 points for the second straight game. He also had seven assists.
STUDS
Tristan Thompson
He didn’t take a single shot from the field all game, and Thompson may have been the most important player in Cleveland’s victory. Thompson grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds, five of which were offensive boards.
DUDS
Brandon Bass
Bass was never able to get into any kind of flow or rhythm, finishing with just two points while missing all six of his shots from the field. He, like the rest of the Celtics, will look for a strong bounce-back game at the TD Garden on Thursday.