Marcus Smart shines in Celtics 116-106 win over the Cavaliers

After a 4-game skid, the Celtics needed any type of light to get things back on track and the Cavaliers were just the team for it. The game wasn’t always pretty, but the team stayed together and answered any run the Cavaliers had. Jayson Tatum carried the team in the first half, but it was the two-way punch of Marcus Smart when things got tight in the end that allowed the Celtics to put this away.

The first half was Jayson Tatum, the recently slumping Sophomore poured in 21 fist half points and at what point had scored 10 straight points in the first quarter. The Celtics at what point late in the second quarter allowed the Cavs to take a one point lead, but responded with seven straight points to close the half and end it with a 57-51 lead.

In the third, Boston was able to weather an 8-1 Cavs run to get the game back into single-digits with 3 straight possessions of three-pointers by the Marcus’. Overall the team was 5/6 from three in the quarter. Boston had some uncharacteristic misses from the line and some awkward turnovers but were able to go into the final frame with a solid 88-81 lead.

Boston came out of the gates slow in the 4th quarter and allowed the Cavs to go on an 11-4 to tie the game at 92. They responded with a 10-2 run of their own to regain a multi-possession lead.

The Cavs threatened a bit getting the lead down to 6 with under 3 minutes left, but a mini 6-0 run by Marcus Smart stabilized the team before any further damage. From there, Smart iced the game with a couple of FT’s after a big rebound, and an end of game steal for good measure to put the finishing touches on 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals night.

Death, Taxes, and Marcus Smart putting it all on the line: