BOSTON – Here are the Stars, Studs and Duds in Boston’s 108-83 Game 1 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
STARS
Jaylen Brown: He scored off the game’s opening tip and never looked back in delivering arguably his best playoff game ever. Brown led the Celtics with 23 points on 9-for-16 shooting to go with eight rebounds and a blocked shot.
Al Horford: Awesome Al Horford was at it again for the Celtics, delivering in a big way at both ends of the floor. He had 20 points to go with four rebounds and six assists. It was the eighth time in this postseason that Horford scored 20 or more points, after having done it no more than three times in any previous postseason run.
Marcus Morris: He talked a big game coming into the series and to Morris’ credit, he backed it up with a strong, all-around game. He tallied his first career playoff double-double, scoring 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting to go with 10 rebounds.
LeBron James: It was one of the weirder postgame performances we’ve seen from LeBron James like, ever. He was flirting with a triple-double before finishing with 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. However, he had a plus/minus of -32 which tied his career playoff-worst set against San Antonio on June 11, 2013.
MORE ANALYSIS FROM GAME 1:
STUDS
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum: His streak of playoff games with 20 or more points has come to an end, but Tatum’s importance was once again a key to Boston getting the victory. Tatum finished with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting to go with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
Kevin Love: He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well (5-for-14), but there was little doubt he was the second-best player on the floor for Cleveland. Love had a team-high 17 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists.
DUDS
Cavs perimeter players: Cleveland got very little production from their perimeter shooters who collectively shot a woeful 4-for-26 from 3-point range. Even the usually reliable Kyle Korver was a dud from deep, missing four of his five 3-pointers.
MORE FROM GAME 1: