Celtics’ Bradley hits game-winner to stun Cavs who lose for the first time in 2017 NBA Playoffs

May 22, 2017 - 11:22 AM
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USA Today/Reuters

For the first time in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost.

The Cavaliers, who swept the first two rounds and dominated the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals, got stunned by Avery Bradley’s buzzer-beating triple in Game Three of their series to surrender to the Boston Celtics, 111-108.

The Celtics were playing without star Isaiah Thomas who was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs with a hip injury.

But Boston refused to back down despite the absence of its big-time scorer. The Celtics trailed by as many as 21 points, but they pulled off a huge second half comeback, outscoring the Cavaliers, 61-42, to snatch the win.

Marcus Smart finished with 27 points to lead the Celtics. Bradley scored 20 points.

LeBron James was limited to 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. Cleveland still leads the series, 2-1.