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Celtics Take Game 1 Led by Brown and White's Scoring Spree

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The Boston Celtics took control of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a dominant 120-95 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday night. The win was fueled by a balanced offensive attack, with both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White putting on a scoring clinic.

Brown, known for his explosive scoring ability, led the Celtics with 32 points. He displayed confidence throughout the game, reminiscent of Golden State's sharpshooter Stephen Curry, even draining a three-pointer from the top of the key and turning away before it swished through the net.

"I had it rolling tonight," Brown said after the game. "You just want to come out and make the right plays, make the right reads. That's all it is. Playing through your teammates and playing with confidence."

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While Brown's scoring prowess is no surprise, it was Derrick White's performance that truly opened up the Celtics' offense. The attention defenses pay to Brown and Jayson Tatum (who finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds) has created a wealth of open looks for White throughout the playoffs. This was evident again in Game 1, as he knocked down a playoff franchise-record seven three-pointers, finishing the night with 25 points.

This hot shooting from White is no coincidence. The Celtics boast a perfect 21-0 record in games where he attempts at least 12 three-pointers. This stat highlights the crucial role White has taken on as a floor spacer and offensive weapon for Boston.

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On the Cavaliers' side, Donovan Mitchell continued his impressive playoff run, scoring 33 points and dishing out six assists. This performance added Mitchell's name to an elite list, making him only the fourth player in NBA history to score 30 or more points in six consecutive playoff series openers. He joins legends like Michael Jordan (who achieved this feat three times), Kobe Bryant, and Wilt Chamberlain.

Darius Garland chipped in with 14 points for Cleveland, but overall, the Cavaliers' offense struggled against the Celtics' stout defense. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged the heavy workload placed on Mitchell, who logged 37 minutes after playing a grueling 45 minutes in Cleveland's Game 7 win over Orlando in the first round.

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"We try to put him out there as long as we can," Bickerstaff said. "He's playing over 40 minutes a game. So we're doing our best to keep him out there because we know how impactful he is. But we're not going to run him into the ground, so he's got nothing left in the fourth quarter."

The series now shifts to Boston for Game 2 on Thursday night. The Celtics will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage and their newfound offensive spark from Derrick White, while the Cavaliers will need to find ways to lighten the load on Donovan Mitchell and generate more consistent offense.