On May 14, Beijing time, in the NBA playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals G4, the Celtics and the Cavaliers continued to play each other.
After three semi-finals, the Celtics took a 2-1 lead after winning G3 106-93 away and regained the initiative. The Celtics had a good performance, with Tatum chipped in 33 points and 13 rebounds, Brown had 28 points and nine rebounds, Holiday had 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and White had 12 points. On the Cavaliers' side, four players also scored in double figures, with Mitchell scoring 33 points, Mobley Jr. 17 points, and Garland and LeVert both scoring 15 points.
Overall, there is a certain gap in the strength of the two teams, the Celtics are 64-18 in the regular season, and the Cavaliers are 48-34 and ranked fourth in the East.
The Celtics averaged 120.6 points per game and 109.2 points per game in the regular season, and entered the playoffs with an average of 107.6 points per game, ranking 6th among playoff teams and conceding 95.9 points per game, ranking 2nd.
Entering the playoffs, the Celtics have four players averaging double-doubles per game, but Pol Kingis is not qualified to return after being injured. Jaylen Brown averaged 24.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, Tatum averaged 23.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, White averaged 19.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, Holiday averaged 9.4 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game, and the three main rotations were Horford averaged 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, Pritchard averaged 7 points per game, and Hauser averaged 6 points per game.
The Cavaliers averaged 112.6 points per game and 110.2 points per game in the regular season, and entered the playoffs averaging 97.7 points per game, ranking 14th among playoff teams and conceding 102.2 points per game, ranking fifth.
The Cavaliers have four players averaging double-doubles per game in the playoffs, including Jarrett Allen, who has only played four games, has missed all of his last six games, and Allen has averaged 17 points and 13.8 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
As the core of the team, Mitchell averaged 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game, Garland averaged 14.7 points, 4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, Mobley Jr. averaged 14 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, LeVert averaged 9.2 points per game, Strus averaged 8.7 points per game, and Okoro averaged 5.9 points per game.
In the playoffs, the Cavaliers' long-range shooting statistics are not ideal, ranking 11th in shooting percentage of 44.7%, ranking 14th in three-point shooting percentage of 30.5%, and ranking 13th in shooting 9.6 three-pointers per game. The team's main scoring method is inside scoring, ranking 3rd in 48.8 points per game and 2nd in shooting 49.9% from the field. Ranked 14th in the playoffs in offensive efficiency and 5th in defensive efficiency.
The Celtics' offensive style is the complete opposite of the Cavaliers', ranking first in shooting 14.3 three-pointers per game, ranking fifth in shooting percentage of 47.3%, ranking seventh in three-point shooting percentage of 36.8%, ranking first in the league in rebounding statistics, ranking second in offensive efficiency, and ranking third in defensive efficiency.
Allen and Mitchell are doubtful for this game, and Porzingis is confirmed to remain absent.
In the case of 1-2 down, Mitchell and Allen can play together is a huge benefit for the Cavaliers, once the Cavaliers are unable to play the main force, especially if Mitchell misses the game, then the Celtics have more chances to win.