Cavs fall to Celtics for third straight loss

CLEVELAND — As the injuries keep piling, things seem to be unraveling for the Cavaliers. The Boston Celtics came into Rocket Arena on Sunday and prevailed 117-115 behind a season-high 42 points from point guard Payton Pritchard. Cleveland (12-9) has now lost three in a row and four of its last six games. However, the Cavs certainly didn't quit fighting until the bitter end. With a chance to send the game into overtime, center Evan Mobley's 15-foot jumper was off the mark at the buzzer. "I loved our fight," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. "I loved our competitive spirit. We made a run at it. "The sky is not falling." Pritchard's 3-pointer with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter opened what seemed to be an unsurmountable 86-65 Celtics advantage. From that point, Cleveland outscored Boston 50-31. Cavs point guard Darius Garland's long 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining narrowed the deficit to 116-115. Boston's All-Star guard, Jaylon Brown, went to the line with 0.9 seconds remaining and split two free throws, which left the score 117-115. Brown finished with a triple-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the Celtics (11-9). The Cavs took the ball out of bounds with 0.6 seconds left, but Mobley's shot was off the mark. Mobley will be manning the center position for at least the next week with Jarrett Allen sidelined with a strained right middle finger. Mobley ended with a team-high 27 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and four assists. "He's getting the ball in better spots," Atkinson said. "He's making better decisions." Mobley has been playing his best basketball of the season in the last week. "I'm trying to go out there and be myself," he said. "I got off to a slow start this year. I think it's helped me." The 7-footer said the Cavs are frustrated with the losing streak. "We can use it as fuel," he said. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who came into the game fourth in the NBA in scoring at 30.6 points per game, had just five points in the first half. He finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals. "They were loading up on Don," Atkinson said. "We have to keep playing the right way. Our decision-making was good. You have to take what the defense gives you." The Celtics outrebounded Cleveland 46-43, even though the Cavs had a 16-15 edge on the offensive glass. Atkinson blamed Boston's offensive rebounding and the disparity at the foul line for the loss. The Celtics were 23-for-29 from the line compared to Cleveland's 9-for-13. The Cavs were 20-for-52 from the 3-point line and Boston was 14-for-40. "They do a good job of packing the paint," Atkinson said. "We have to keep making the right plays (and finding the open shooters)." Cleveland swingman Jaylon Tyson was 5-for-12 from long distance for 17 points and five rebounds. "I feel we're on cruise control," he said. "We're not hungry enough. It's on us to fix it. We have to compete and want it more than the other team. We have to find a way to win these games." Garland finished with 21 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. "That was one of the positive takeaways in this game," Atkinson said. "He's still trying to find his groove." Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.