Mitchell-led Cavaliers stun Celtics in battle of East's best

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BOSTON -- Less than five minutes had passed in Friday night's final regular-season showdown between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers and the Celtics, and the game already felt over.

Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson already had burned his second timeout, the Celtics already had made seven 3-pointers, and Boston led 25-3, appearing well on its way to massive statement win.

"We got punched in the mouth," Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell said later. "What are we going to do about it? How are we going to respond?"

As it turned out, they responded rather splendidly. And it was thanks, in large part, to Mitchell, the six-time All-Star who finished with 41…