The Boston Celtics held a 14-point lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter when Jaylen Brown was called for a loose ball foul as he and Darius Garland went after the ball. The foul was Brown's fourth of the game, and caused Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla to pull Brown out of the game to ensure he did not foul out.

Jaylen Brown viewed his third-quarter foul as the turning point of Friday’s Celtics-Cavaliers game — and an illegitimate one, at that.

Boston, missing two key starters, appeared to be in control for much of the game before Cleveland’s fourth-quarter surge. Jayson Tatum delivered a dominant performance with 46 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists, while Jaylen Brown, returning from a thigh contusion, contributed 37 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

The Celtics are trying to make up some ground for the top seed in the East, but they may have to do so without one of their best players.

The Boston Celtics' 22-point lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers made Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown do all sorts of bragging, but, in a historic Cinderella run by Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland C

Jaylen Brown was not pleased with a loose ball foul call that he felt Darius Garland flopped on. The call changed the game, he said.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa ...