Celtics take a 2-1 series lead after defeating the Cavs 106-93.

In Game 3, the Boston Celtics appeared far more like their usual selves. The top-seeded Celtics overcame a setback at home to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-93 on Saturday night, taking a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, while Jaylen Brown contributed 28. After losing Game 2 on their own court by 24, the Celtics didn’t play around on Thursday. They were unable to.

After Tatum converted a three-point play, the Celtics led by 23 points at the break after scoring 14 points in a row to start the second half. For the Cavaliers, who stunned Boston in March by rallying from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, that was simply too much. For Cleveland, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, but his play was laborious in the fourth quarter due to an aggravating left knee ailment. With 1:19 remaining, Boston was up 13 points and in command when Mitchell walked off the court and into the locker room.

The Cavaliers pulled within nine points three times in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics, who shot only 8 of 35 from beyond the arc in Game 2, were able to stall the Cavs’ comeback with consecutive 3-pointers from Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.The Cavs rallied from a 23-point deficit and were unable to stop Tatum. They scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and reduced Boston’s lead to 15 points before the conclusion of the third, infuriating the towel-waving Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd, who were hoping for another shock. However, the Celtics always turned to Tatum or Brown when they needed a basket because they were able to penetrate Cleveland’s defence for layups or make difficult, contested jump shots.

Evan Mobley added 17 points, while Darius Garland and Caris LeVert each had 15. The Cavs fell at home for the first time in the playoffs. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland’s starting centre, was out for the sixth game in a row due to a painful rib ailment. Allen has been sidelined since Game 4 of the first-round series against Orlando, and it’s unclear when — or if — he’ll be available. Mitchell led the Cavs with six 3-pointers and 23 points in the first half, but Cleveland received insufficient support from the rest of its starters and bench, allowing the Celtics to take a 57-48 halftime lead.

Once more, the Celtics shot poorly in their opening two 3-point attempts. However, those strong first impressions gave them more confidence, and they scored five 3-pointers in the first quarter to grab a 30-28 lead at the half. By then, Tatum was sure all the Celtics would turn out, and Game 2 had been forgotten. After missing the previous two months due to a damaged knee, forward Dean Wade made his postseason debut, giving Cleveland a welcome early boost. Wade made a 3-pointer with his first possession after the Cavaliers rallied from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game with a career-high 23 points against Boston on March 5. Due to a calf issue, Boston centre Kristaps Porzingis missed his fourth consecutive game.