Thanks to Kyrie Irving and Lebron James the Cleveland Cavaliers are one win away from playing in their third straight NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors after beating the Boston Celtics 112-99 in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Tonight, they will try to close out the Celtics at Boston’s TD Garden. Although the Celtics are missing star point guard Isaiah Thomas with a hip injury they won’t be an easy prey. They already proved that in game four in Cleveland when they led by as many as 16 points before allowing Irving and James to lead the Cavs’ comeback.
Despite the game four loss and trailing 3-1 in the series, the Celtics are hoping to find some new options to get their first home victory of the series. The Celtics lost the first two games at TD garden. In game one they lost 117-104 and in game two they were blown out 130-86.
The problem for the Celtics will be that if Kyrie Irvin plays with the same hunger as in game four it will be more difficult for the Celtics to win because he will help create open shots for Lebron James and the rest of the Cavs, so Boston’s Coach Brad Stevens must try to come up with some new defensive schemes to contain him.
The Celtics shot 47 percent from the floor and 35 percent from beyond the arc in the first half when they led by as many as 16 points.
While Irving’s points sparked Cleveland’s comeback, the team’s defense in the last 24 minutes was a big factor in turning the game around.
The Cavaliers held the Celtics to 41 percent from the field and 29 percent from beyond the arc in the second half.
Everyone will be keeping a close look on Kyrie Irving’s ankle, which he tweaked late in the third quarter, when he accidentally stepped on Terry Rozier.
Irving stayed on the floor for a few minutes writhing in pain before recovering to finish the night with 42 points and lead the Cavaliers to victory.
