Holiday ‘masterclass’ helps C’s earn gutsy Game 3 win over Cavs

Holiday’s ‘masterclass’ helps C’s earn gutsy Game 3 win over Cavs, originally broadcast on NBC Sports Boston

Jrue Holiday picked the perfect time to have one of his best games as a Boston Celtic.

The veteran C guard was everywhere during Boston’s 106-93 Game 3 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. While offering his usual defensive talents, he also produced his best offensive performance in several months.

Holiday scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting (3-4 3-PT) including 15 in the first half. This was his highest score since dropping 20 points against the Washington Wizards on February 9.

Additionally, Holiday had eight rebounds and five assists to achieve an outstanding overall performance. He set the tone for the Celtics to win, and his efforts did not go unnoticed.

“On both ends, I thought he played really well, really solid,” C’s coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters. “When he’s that impactful for us, we’re a different team. … He set the tone tonight with his physicality and his defense.”

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were the stars of Game 3 with 33 and 28 points, respectively, but they made a point of recognizing Holiday’s impact.

“Jrue was incredible tonight,” Tatum said. “Jrue is kind of the glue that holds us all together. He literally does everything we need him to do. He sacrifices himself at times, making single-digit shots in games in a row.

“But on a night where he can attack mismatches, he can post up guys, he can obviously shoot the 3. When he’s aggressive and in that good rhythm, it makes us even better.”

Brown called Holiday’s performance a “masterclass.”

“Jrue is a dog,” Brown added. “I can’t speak highly enough of Jrue – the way he came in and dominated on both sides of the ball, but he just made some timely baskets.”

Holiday’s greatest contribution was his work on Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs star dropped 33 points while shooting 7 of 12 from deep, but ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. This can be attributed to Holiday constantly attacking Mitchell at the basket and being physical with him on the defensive end.

“I thought I was going to be aggressive,” Holiday said of his clash with Mitchell. “You know Donovan is going to be aggressive on one side of the ball, but to make him work on the other side because he guards me. There are a lot of times where I could defer or do something else and I have just thought maybe attacking that might wear him down even more in the third or fourth quarter.

“I think from the jump I just tried to be aggressive with him defensively and not give him any space. Even though he’s going to score and he’s going to do all that. Then on offense for me, I think just being aggressive and driving to the paint and making him work a little bit more is just going to help our team. it’s not D-White, it’s JB (Jaylen Brown).

If Holiday can replicate his performance in Game 4, it will go a long way in helping the Celtics return to TD Garden with a chance to win the series in front of their home crowd.

Boston will look to take a 3-1 series lead Monday night with first tip set for 7 p.m. ET. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. with Celtics pregame live on NBC Sports Boston.