Donovan Mitchell, Cavs' Win vs. Jayson Tatum, Celtics Hyped as ECF Preview By NBA Fans

The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 25-3 first quarter deficit to defeat the host Boston Celtics 123-116 in a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview on Friday evening.

Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points, including five straight down the stretch to turn a 114-all tie into a 119-114 Cleveland lead.

Darius Garland, who scored 20 points, soon added a clutch bucket to put Cleveland up 121-114 with 56 seconds left.

Celtics superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown did all they could to thwart Cleveland's comeback. Tatum finished with 46 points on 19-of-37 shooting, 16 rebounds, nine assists and three blocks.

He scored 30 in the first half alone and nearly had a triple-double at that point, too.

Brown added 37 points on 13-of-24 shooting.

Needless to say, these two teams are far and away the East's two best, and that's been the case all season.

Fans are amped, though, for the potential of these two meeting in the playoffs.

These two teams don't meet again this regular season, but it's very possible they cross paths in the playoffs. The 49-10 Cavs are cruising toward a No. 1 seed with a seven-and-a-half game lead over the second-place Celtics, who sit 42-18. It wouldn't be a surprise whatsoever to see them meet up in May.