Irving’s layup with 2.6 seconds left was the difference as the Cavaliers scored the game’s final 12 points for a stunning 88-87 win, snapping Boston’s four-game winning streak.
The Celtics again seemed to have the complacency they’ve shown many times over the past few years against lesser teams. They needed one more play to seal the win, but Ray Allen missed an open layup, Kevin Garnett traveled after gathering an offensive rebound with a 1-point lead, and Paul Pierce thought he drew a foul on a pump fake with 1:53 left but it wasn’t called.
Pierce was angry after the game, most notably because he did not re-enter the contest until 3:42 was left after having been removed to begin the fourth. The Celtics were leading, 87-79, when Pierce checked in and did not score again.
“Maybe I should play a little bit more,’’ Pierce said when asked what the team can do to secure fourth-quarter leads. “I don’t know.’’
Asked if he was disappointed at coming into the game at the 3:42 mark, he said, “No comment.’’
When asked if coach Doc Rivers explained to him why he was held out so long, Pierce said, “No, it’s not his job to explain that. The coaches make their decisions. But at the time we had a pretty good lead, so I can understand. I can understand.’’
Pierce then was asked what the outcome would have been if he had re-entered earlier. “I wish I was a fortune teller,’’ he said. “I don’t think this would have been the outcome, though. I’m more upset with losing than not getting back in sooner. I would have liked to been in there to finish off the game but the coaches make their decisions. At the time you can understand when you have an 8-, 9-point lead, so it’s a double-edged sword.’’
