NOT SO FAST, CAVS: CELTICS WIN GAME 3

CELTICS 111, CAVALIERS 108

cleveland» Avery Bradley’s 3-pointer danced around the rim and dropped in with less than a second left and the Boston Celtics, blown out in the first two games of the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals and playing without star guard Isaiah Thomas, stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-108 on Sunday night in Game 3 to end the champions’ 13-game postseason winning streak.

Bradley’s shot from the left wing bounced on the rim four times before going down. It capped a furious comeback by the Celtics, who trailed by 21 points in the third quarter before rallying to tighten up a series that appeared to be over.

Marcus Smart made seven 3pointers and scored 27 points, and Bradley had 20 points for the Celtics. They were given little chance after losing by 44 points in Game 2 and then losing Thomas for the rest of the postseason because of a major hip injury.

“Everybody had to step up their game tonight, especially with one of our brothers down,” Smart said. “Our love and support goes out to Isaiah. We wish he could be here, but we understand. We just kept fighting. Everybody did their part.”

Kyrie Irving scored 29 points, and Kevin Love had 28 for the Cavaliers. They fell to 10-1 in the postseason with their first loss since Game 4 of last year’s NBA Finals.

LeBron James had one of the worst games of his postseason career, finishing Sunday with 11 points and six turnovers.

Still, the Cavs were in control and leading 77-56 in the third quarter after making 14 3pointers during the first half. But Cleveland got complacent and Boston got hot — and the Celtics, who arrived at Quicken Loans Arena without Thomas and looking somewhat dejected, never gave up.