WASHINGTON (AFP) — Caris LeVert scored Cleveland’s last 10 points in overtime and sparked the Cavaliers to a 132-123 National Basketball Association victory at Boston on Friday.
LeVert and Donovan Mitchell each scored a game-high 41 points as the Cavaliers improved to 4-1 while Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each had 32 to lead the Celtics.
“I knew it was coming,” LeVert said of his big night. “I put in a lot of work. I was due for this. We’re having so much fun out here. We can’t wait to keep doing it.”
It was only the second time the Cavs had two 40-point scorers in a game, the other time by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in game five of the 2016 NBA Finals, which Cleveland won in seven games.
Brown’s overtime dunk lifted Boston level at 121-121, but LeVert answered with a 3-pointer and two free throws and, after Brown sank two free throws, LeVert added two free throws of his own and closed out matters on a 4-point play with 32.2 seconds to go, making a free throw after a flagrant foul by Malcolm Brogdon.
“He did it all. He literally carried us,” Mitchell said. “He led us from the start. We fed off that.”
After trailing by as many as 15 points, LeVert’s 3-pointer put Cleveland ahead 113-112 in regulation. A Brown basket put Boston ahead 114-113 with 28 seconds remaining, only for Jarrett Allen to sink a free throw that led to overtime.
