Playing without two starters for the first time this season, the Celtics improved to 2-0 against the team many pegged as the favorite in the Eastern Conference.

Boston defeated the Cavaliers 117-115 on Sunday at Rocket Arena, spearheaded by Jaylen Brown’s fourth career triple-double and a season-high 42 points from Payton Pritchard.

Pritchard scored his final six points in the last 90 seconds of regulation to hold off a late Cleveland charge led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. His two free throws with 5.9 seconds to play were the difference for the 11-9 Celtics, who now sit just a half-game back of the underperforming Cavs in the East standings.

Brown finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, offsetting his 3-for-13 showing from the field by going 12-for-16 from the f

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