LeBron James delivered a stunning performance in Game 2 with 42 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists—posting a monster triple-double. Yet the Cleveland Cavaliers still came up short. The Boston Celtics, meanwhile, have fiercely defended home court, winning the first two games and capitalizing on their home-court advantage. Much like a high-pressure BD Cricket Match, where home advantage can tilt the momentum, the Celtics have made every possession count in their own arena.
Tristan Thompson reflected on the situation, saying, “It’s time we learn from how the Bucks handled their home games. We’ve got to defend our home court the same way and take the next two games.” The focus for the Cavaliers now is staying in the moment and making adjustments moving forward.
Originally, coach Tyronn Lue intended to always keep at least one of LeBron James or Kevin Love on the court to maintain leadership and scoring presence. However, that rotation broke down in Game 2. As the fourth quarter began, both James and Love were off the floor. Addressing the situation afterward, Lue admitted the rotation plan fell apart. “I wanted LeBron to start the fourth and go for two or three minutes before subbing in Love and giving LeBron a breather,” Lue explained. “But LeBron told me he needed a rest at the start of the quarter. That disrupted our lineup plan.”
Lue acknowledged they must handle that situation better next time. And while James’ performance was electric, it wasn’t enough to carry the team solo. “Outside of college games, I’ve never seen a star put up those kinds of numbers and still lose,” Thompson noted. “Other guys need to step up. Everyone has to contribute.”
With the Cavaliers now trailing 0–2 in the series, history tells us they’ve come back from deficits before—but Thompson cautioned against leaning on the past. “Every year is different,” he said. “I’m not interested in comparing this to when we were down 1–3 before. This team is different, and so is the situation.”
During Game 2, James took a hard hit to the chin from Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum, who collided with him on a help-defense play. LeBron briefly returned to the locker room for medical evaluation. He later confirmed he passed the NBA’s concussion protocol and experienced no symptoms. He also clarified that Tatum’s hit was accidental and not malicious in any way.
Following two days of rest, James has returned to full training with the team and appears to be in good condition. Coach Lue also confirmed that the collision won’t affect James’ availability for Game 3. Still, the Cavaliers know their current roster bears little resemblance to previous championship squads. If they want to turn this series around, they’ll need to find answers quickly.
In a tightly contested series, every quarter matters—just like in a BD Cricket Match, where a single over can shift the match’s outcome. For Cleveland, finding rhythm, managing rotations, and defending home court will be the only way to keep their playoff hopes alive.