After looking lifeless in Wednesday’s 113-95 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Cavaliers post-game media conference was dominated by different forms of the same question.
“Have you guys checked out?”
Although no one was able to find the right words for an overly convincing denial, the Cavaliers used their play on Friday to send a message, snapping their season-long 10-game losing streak with a 97-91 win over the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden.
Energy and effort? Yeah, they were there.
“I thought they responded perfect,” said Cavaliers coach Byron Scott. “I thought they were into the game from start to finish. We came out with some aggressiveness and focus. We played hard. We played all 48 minutes.”
Tristan Thompson finished with a career-high 29 points (10 of 17 from the floor) and pulled in 17 rebounds against a Boston squad that played without Paul Pierce (sprained right ankle) and Kevin Garnett (left ankle inflammation).
“I don’t know. I really don’t,” said Scott when asked what got into Thompson. “I just know that he was just really geared up to play tonight. I had a little talk with him yesterday after practice on a few things — I don’t think that was it — but he came out tonight [and] maybe it was some of the things that [the media] said. We have to come out and play like men and I thought our guys did that.”
The Cavaliers (23-52) dominated Boston (39-37) on the boards, 58-42, and held the Celtics to 40 percent shooting (36 of 89) from the floor. Kyrie Irving, who went just 4-of-20 from the floor — thanks in large part to the defense of the Celtics’ Avery Bradley — finished the game with 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
“It’s good to have a win like this, when Kylie doesn’t play well,” said Scott. “Tristan was fantastic. I thought everyone else after that was real solid.”
Jeff Green led the Celtics with 23 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Shavlik Randolph added 16 points and seven rebounds before fouling out.
Despite Irving’s off night, it was he who the Cavs went to for the big shot late in the game. With Cleveland up seven, Irving crossed over the Celtics’ Jason Terry and connected on a jumper to put the Cavs up, 95-87, with 1:22 on the clock and all but seal the win.
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