Apr 19, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) drives to the basket in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
CLEVELAND — LeBron James predicted prior to the start of these playoffs that in order for his Cavaliers Cavaliers to succeed, the Big Three would all have to play well. It took a little while for one of them to get going, but ultimately they all shined.
Guard Kyrie Irving scored 30 points in his postseason debut, including making his first five 3-pointers, James had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and forward Kevin Love had 19 points and 12 rebounds in the Cavaliers’ 113-100 victory against the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the first-round series.
Swingman Evan Turner had 12 points and seven rebounds and guard Marcus Smart and forward
Brandon Bass had 10 points each to lead the Celtics’ starters. Guard Isaiah Thomas had a team-high 22 points and 10 assists and center Kelly Olynyk added 12 points for Boston, both off the bench.
Love missed his first four shots in his playoff debut — he missed the rim on three of them — and struggled to shoot 2 of 11 in the first half before erupting in the third quarter. He had eight points and six rebounds within the first 7 1/2 minutes of the third and the Cavaliers outscored the Celtics 16-4 during a five-minute stretch to take command of the game.
The Celtics scored 14 consecutive points later in the third to draw within 82-76, but Cleveland forward James Jones’ buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter pushed the lead back to 91-76. It was the second time the Cavaliers dropped a 3-pointer at a quarter buzzer after Irving ended the first half with a 3-pointer.
Sunday marked the Cavs’ first playoff game in five years. The last time they hosted a playoff game on this court, James was booed off the floor following a disastrous performance against these Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2010. It turned out to be his final home game before departing for Miami.
The Celtics enter this series as heavy underdogs, but they shot 57 percent in the first quarter and even held a 37-29 lead following a 3-pointer from Smart early in the second quarter.
But Irving and guard J.R. Smith made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions in the second quarter and Love followed a minute later with another 3-pointer to tie the game at 40. The Cavaliers kept rolling from there.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Cleveland.
NOTES: The Celtics are 4-1 in postseason series against the Cavs. The Cavs’ lone series victory was in 1992, which was Larry Bird’s final NBA game. … One of Celtics coach Brad Stevens’ biggest concerns entering this series was turnovers. “We can’t turn the ball over,” he said. “They’re going to make super-human plays and that’s deflating enough.” … F LeBron James and G Kyrie Irving became the fifth duo to average at least 20 points and five assists apiece during the regular season. The last two pairs to do it (Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen ’92, James and Dwyane Wade ’13) each won championships. … Browns QB Johnny Manziel, recently released from rehab, attended Sunday’s game.
