LeBron James was seated courtside as the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 102-109 defeat against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday. Celebrated for leading the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship in 2016, the 39-year-old received a warm ovation from the crowd when a montage of his best moments in Cleveland was displayed on the big screen. However, James' presence failed to inspire the Cavaliers, as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 60 points, giving the Celtics a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Tatum, with 33 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and two steals, led the game, while Brown contributed 27 points and eight rebounds. The Cavaliers were without star guard Donovan Mitchell, sidelined due to a calf strain suffered in Game 3, where he scored 33 points, extending his streak of at least 25 points in six consecutive playoff games.
In Mitchell's absence, Darius Garland stepped up with a team-high 30 points, supported by Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert, who added 19 points each. Despite their efforts, the Cavaliers could not overcome the top-seeded Celtics.
"There's nothing better than winning a playoff game on the road," Brown told ESPN. "It's like everybody's against you, but as a competitor, it's really fun to be in an environment like that and win. Now we need to perform well in front of our home fans and secure the series win."
The Celtics will aim to clinch the series and advance to the Eastern Conference finals in Game 5 at TD Garden on Wednesday. Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff expressed pride in his team's effort, while Garland remained determined in his post-game interview, stating, "We just have to fight through all of this. It's not going our way, but we'll keep fighting. That's what we always do."