Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, is defended by Cleveland’s Max Strus, back, and Evan Mobley during Game 2 of their second-round playoff series Thursday in Boston. Tatum led the Celtics with 25 points, but the Cavaliers tied the series with a 118-94 win. Steven Senne/Associated Press
BOSTON — Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points, Evan Mobley had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the top-seeded Boston Celtics 118-94 on Thursday night to tie their second-round playoff series at one game apiece.
Two nights after losing by 25, with Mitchell scoring 33 points but getting little help, the Cavaliers seized the lead in the third quarter and answered with a blowout of its own. Mitchell scored 16 in the third, then hit three straight baskets early in the fourth, including a 28-foot banked 3-pointer that left him shrugging his shoulders as he backpedaled back down on defense.
Jayson Tatum scored 25 points for Boston, and Jaylen Brown added 19. But Derrick White, whose 25 points in Game 1 helped the Celtics coast to a 120-95 win, managed just 10 points, missing seven of his eight 3-point tries.
The series moves to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday, with a return trip to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Caris LeVert scored 21 off the bench for Cleveland, hitting a pull-up jumper midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Cavaliers a 20-point lead and started a parade of fans to the exits. Many of those who stayed began booing.
A minute later, after the Celtics missed another 3-pointer – they were 8 for 35 from long distance – LeVert made a layup and drew a flagrant foul from Tatum. It was a 25-point game, and Boston Coach Joe Mazzulla emptied his bench.
Cleveland’s J.B. Bickerstaff followed soon after, getting some rest for Mitchell, who played a game-high 37 minutes on Tuesday night but was on the bench for the 10-2 Celtics run to start the fourth that blew open the game.
Mitchell hit four of his five 3-point attempts in the third quarter to help Cleveland extend its lead to as large as 14 points.
Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis missed his third straight game because of a strained calf muscle. Mobley started at center in place of Jarrett Allen, who has missed five straight games because of bruised ribs. Mobley reached a career playoff high in points.
Mobley scored 11 in the first quarter, when the Cavaliers quickly fell behind by nine – giving the vibes of a second straight blowout. But Cleveland ran off 11 points in a row – eight from LeVert. Boston went ahead by eight in the second quarter before the Cavs sent it into halftime tied.
Tatum had 16 points, six rebounds and four assists at the half. Mobley had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
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