Celtics top Cavaliers 109-98; Tatum scores 20 in second game back

CLEVELAND —

The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-98 on Sunday afternoon at Rocket Arena in a game televised on WMUR-TV.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 23 points, while Jayson Tatum contributed 20 points in 27 minutes in his second game back after a torn right Achilles tendon.

Center Nikola Vucevic did not play after fracturing his right ring finger in the Celtics’ previous game against the Dallas Mavericks. He underwent surgery Saturday and is expected to be out for at least a month.

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Cleveland led by as many as eight points in the first quarter, but Boston picked up the pace and took the lead in the second quarter.

The Celtics’ defense held the Cavaliers to 13 of 45 on 3-pointers, or 29%.

Boston remains second in the Eastern Conference at 43-21, behind the Detroit Pistons, who are 45-17.

Boston travels to Texas next for a Tuesday night game against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center.