Grant Williams had two probabilities to win the sport for Boston. He missed each.
Williams was fouled with 0.8 seconds left and the Celtics and Cavaliers tied 109-109. He went to the road needing to hit only one free throw to present Boston the win. He could not do it.
The Cavaliers went on to win in additional time, the third time this season they beat the Celtics in further time. This got here someday after the Celtics misplaced to the New York Knicks in double overtime. Two days, three further durations, two losses.
Williams made 4 of 5 3-pointers within the recreation, however he could not hit his solely two free throws of the competition. It should have particularly stung when Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell spoke to Williams earlier than the keys photographs, and Williams stated, “I am gonna make each.”
Mitchell completed with 40 factors, however his most devastating play might have been no matter he stated to rattle Williams.
Cleveland stayed a recreation forward of the Knicks for fourth place within the Jap Convention, whereas Boston fell to a recreation and a half behind Milwaukee for the highest spot. Boston additionally fell to 4-7 in additional time for the season, the shedding document solely resulting from their 0-3 additional time document towards Cleveland.
In the meantime, Cleveland is an ideal 7-0 in additional time video games this yr, due to Mitchell’s 36 factors within the further durations. That is second within the league to Boston’s Jaylen Brown, who has 43 factors, albeit in three extra video games and 15 extra minutes.
One key to Mitchell’s success? He is perfect on his free throws in additional time. Satirically, so is Williams. It is the regulation freebies which were an issue.
