The odds were stacked against the Boston Celtics on Sunday. They didn't arrive in Cleveland until about 2 a.m. That was because their flight from Minnesota, where they had just completed the first half of this back-to-back, got delayed. Furthermore, they were without two starters. However, as they've done all season, they refused to give in.
Starting center Neemias Queta was out due to left ankle sprain injury management. Derrick White was inactive because of a right calf contusion. The Cavaliers were coming in fresh after a day off. None of it stood in Boston's way.
One of the primary reasons was the play of Payton Pritchard.