The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 109-102, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Monday night in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal-round series. The Celtics lead the series, 3-1.

The Celtics (7-2 postseason) came into the night with the built-in advantage provided by the absence of Donovan Mitchell, who was confirmed out for the Cavaliers (5-6 postseason) due to a calf injury. Boston did indeed establish a 37-30 lead through one, but Cleveland continued to fight in the absence of its biggest star and had cut its deficit to five by halftime. The hosts then got off to a fast third-quarter start that peaked when they took a brief 65-64 edge, but they would only score 37 points the rest of the way as the visitors turned the defense up a notch and held off a few late rallies.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points, adding 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. Jaylen Brown furnished 27 points, eight boards and one assist. Jrue Holiday delivered 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. Payton Pritchard netted 11 points.

Darius Garland paced the Cavaliers with 30 points, complementing them with seven assists, three rebounds and two steals. Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert generated matching 19-point, three-assist tallies while pulling down nine and five rebounds, respectively. Max Strus supplied 15 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

The series now shifts back to TD Garden in Boston, where Game 5 unfolds Wednesday night.