(Cleveland) Jayson Tatum scored 33 points and the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-102 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Jaylen Brown scored 27 points for the Celtics, who could eliminate the Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Tatum also had 11 rebounds and five assists. Jrue Holiday had 16 points for the Celtics.
Several important Cavaliers players were not in uniform Monday, including injured Donovan Mitchell (calf) and Jarrett Allen (ribs).
Darius Garland produced 30 points in the loss. Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert each added 19 points.
The Cavaliers competed with the Celtics throughout the game and trailed by only 10 points entering the final quarter.
A Brown basket gave the Celtics a 15-point lead, but the Cavaliers responded with a 10-2 run, seeing Garland and Dean Wade make three-pointers.
Brown added a three-pointer with 1:08 left, making the score 102-97, but the Celtics then added to their lead, this time for good.
Thunder 100 – Mavericks 96
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Mavericks 100-96 in Dallas to tie the series 2-2.
PHOTO JEROME MIRON, USA TODAY SPORTS
Luguentz Dort (5)
Quebecer Luguentz Dort scored an important three-point basket at the end of the match.
The Mavericks had 13 blocks, a record for a series game in the history of the organization.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
Contributing from Schuyler Dixon of the Associated Press in Dallas