Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Match Player Stats: The Nail-Biting Thriller That Had Fans on Edge
Man, if you’re an NBA junkie like me, the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics match player stats from that wild November 30 showdown still have you replaying those final seconds in your head. Picture this: the Cavs clawing back from a 21-point deficit, hearts pounding at Rocket Arena, and a buzzer-beater that just… rimmed out. It’s the kind of cavs vs celtics drama that reminds us why we love this league. But hold up there’s a shocking twist buried in those Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics match player stats that flipped the script on what we thought we knew about these Eastern Conference beasts. Let’s dive in, stat by stat, and unpack the madness.
Game Recap: A Fourth Quarter Run That Stole the Show
It was billed as an Eastern Conference matchup straight out of a playoff preview, but this regular season thriller delivered way more. The Boston Celtics, riding high under Joe Mazzulla’s sharp eye, built a massive lead early. Their ball movement was poetry sharp passes slicing through Cleveland’s perimeter defense. By halftime, Boston was up 21, and it felt over.
Then came the fourth quarter. The Cavs, coached by JB Bickerstaff, unleashed hell. Donovan Mitchell, usually a scoring machine, had been quiet all night. But with under two minutes left, he drained back-to-back threes, pulling Cleveland within two at 114-112. The crowd erupted. Pritchard iced it with free throws, Garland hit a dagger three with 1.2 seconds left… and Evan Mobley’s game-winner? It clanged off the rim. Final score: Celtics 117, Cavaliers 115. Talk about key moments that define a rivalry.
What made this cleveland cavaliers vs boston celtics match player stats breakdown so electric? The clutch performance from unlikely heroes. Payton Pritchard, not Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, dropped a season-high 42 points off the bench. Shocking, right? The dude’s a sixth man, yet he outshone the stars. And for the Cavs, it was all grit no quit in that locker room.
Top Performers: Stars Shine, But Bench Steals the Spotlight
Let’s get to the meat: those cavaliers celtics player stats that tell the real story. This wasn’t just about the big names; it was a full-team affair. Here’s a quick bullet-point snapshot of the top performers who lit up the box score:
- Payton Pritchard (Celtics): 42 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds. The top scorer of the night, hitting 8-of-15 from deep. Who saw that coming? His 3-point percentage was on fire at 53.3% a career night that had Mazzulla grinning post-game.
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics): 19 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists. A rare triple-double for JB, his fourth ever. Double-double? Nah, he tripled it up in a cavs vs celtics nail-biter.
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers): 27 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks. The rim protection king owned the paint, grabbing a double-double and swatting shots like it was nothing.
- Darius Garland (Cavaliers): 21 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds. His late three was pure magic, but turnovers hurt five of ’em in crunch time.
And the scoring leader overall? Pritchard edges out Mobley, but don’t sleep on the vets. Donovan Mitchell finished with 18 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds below his 30.6 average this 2025-26 season, but those late bombs showed his fight. Shocking stat: Mitchell’s field goal percentage dipped to 43.8%, yet he still led the Cavs in assists. That’s the cleveland cavaliers vs boston celtics match player stats duality flaws and all.
For a deeper dive, check this table on the points, rebounds, assists leaders:
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | Notable Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payton Pritchard | Celtics | 42 | 4 | 10 | 52.9% | 8 threes, career-high scoring |
| Evan Mobley | Cavs | 27 | 14 | 3 | 61.5% | Double-double, 2 blocks |
| Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 19 | 12 | 11 | 45.0% | Triple-double hero |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cavs | 18 | 7 | 8 | 43.8% | Clutch 3s in fourth quarter |
| Darius Garland | Cavs | 21 | 6 | 7 | 50.0% | Buzzer-beater three |
These numbers? They scream top performers in a game full of double-doubles and near-misses. Brown’s line was especially wild his last triple-double was back in January 2024.
Team Stats: Where the Battle Was Won (and Lost)
Zooming out to team stats, this cleveland cavaliers vs boston celtics match player stats clash was a shooting clinic… until it wasn’t. Boston’s shooting percentage hit 49.4% from the field, with a scorching 35.0% from three on 14 makes. They dominated rebounds (46-43) and assists (19-28? Wait, Cavs edged assists at 28-19, showing better ball movement late).
Cleveland? They shot 45.7% overall and lit it up from deep at 38.5% (20 threes!). But turnovers killed them 13 vs. Boston’s 16 leading to easy second-chance points for the Green. Free throw percentage was close (Cavs 69.2%, Celtics 79.3%), but Boston’s steals (9-7) and fewer blocks allowed (4-2) sealed it.
Here’s a side-by-side table breaking down the team stats that mattered most:
| Stat Category | Celtics | Cavaliers | Edge? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 49.4% | 45.7% | Celtics |
| 3-Point % | 35.0% | 38.5% | Cavs |
| Rebounds | 46 | 43 | Celtics |
| Assists | 19 | 28 | Cavs |
| Turnovers | 16 | 13 | Cavs |
| Steals/Blocks | 9/4 | 7/2 | Celtics |
| Free Throws Made | 23/29 | 9/13 | Celtics |
Shocking info: The Cavs’ steals blocks combo was solid, but Boston’s free throw percentage edge turned potential Cavs runs into duds. This is the nitty-gritty fans crave why the Celtics win felt inevitable yet so fragile.
Player Spotlights: Tatum Out, But Who’s Stepping Up?
Jayson Tatum’s absence (Achilles tear brutal, man) was the elephant in the room. The guy’s averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists this season, with a field goal percentage near 45%. No Tatum meant more load on Brown and Pritchard, and they delivered. Kristaps Porziņģis? Solid 12 points and rim protection, but his blocks were missed in the paint.
Over in Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell’s Donovan Mitchell stats are MVP-caliber: 30.6 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and a league-leading 3-point percentage around 38%. Jarrett Allen grabbed 10 boards, Caris LeVert added 15 off the bench, and Darius Garland’s player stats (21 points) showed why he’s the engine. Evan Mobley? His blocks steals duo is elite averaging 1.5 swats this year.
Jaylen Brown post-game? We got lucky, but that’s the cavs celtics rivalry never easy. And Mitchell in his Mitchell postgame interview: We fought, but those free throws… we’ll get ’em next time. Pure fire.
The Bigger Picture: Rivalry Heats Up in 2025-26
This head-to-head gem bumps Boston’s season series lead to 2-0, but remember February’s Cavs upset? They rallied from 22 down for a 123-116 win, with Mitchell dropping 41 and Mobley notching another double-double. The cleveland vs boston nba saga is alive, folks a cle vs bos battle that’s got post-game reactions buzzing across the Eastern Conference.
Shocking nugget to chew on: Without Tatum, Boston’s still top-3 in the East. With him back? Unstoppable. For Cleveland, these cavaliers vs celtics close calls build that killer instinct. As we eye more match highlights, one thing’s clear: the NBA player stats from this clash will echo in playoffs.
What do you think can the Cavs flip the script next time? Drop your takes below. If you’re hunting more cleveland cavaliers vs boston celtics match player stats breakdowns, hit subscribe. Game on!
Conclusion
The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics delivered pure NBA drama: a 21-point comeback, Pritchard’s unreal 42-point eruption, and a heartbreaking buzzer miss. These player stats prove the rivalry is fiercer than ever in the 2025-26 season. Boston stole this one, but Cleveland showed they’re built for playoff wars. Next clash? Buckle up this series is just getting started.
