CLEVELAND — When an opportunity arises, Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk said, one has to be ready to pounce on it.
That’s what the 7-footer did on Saturday night. He matched his season-high with 25 points and added a season-high 12 rebounds in the Celtics’ 111-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers before 18,456 at Quicken Loans Arena.
“The season is long and grueling,” Olynyk said. “Guys are going to fall in and out of the lineup. When an opportunity is presented, you have to be ready to seize it.”
The Cavs (32-49) certainly did not seize anything. They fell behind the Celtics by 33 points in the fourth quarter before their late rally.
Cleveland outscored Boston 41-22 in the fourth quarter to make the final score look more presentable.
Guards Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Jarrett Jack each had 15 points for the Cavs.
As soon as the Cavaliers were eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoff race, it seems as if they lost their inspiration to play.
“You invest so much making a push down the stretch,” Cavs center Spencer Hawes said. “We have to do a better job battling human nature and not allowing that to impact our effort.”
Cleveland has lost back-to-back games to Boston and Milwaukee, which are a combined 80 games below .500.
“This part of the season is hard,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said. “It’s real hard for a lot of teams in our situation — that have guys who are banged up and bruised and out of the hunt, out of the chase.
“My whole thing is every time we step on the floor, whether it’s for practice or shootaround, I want my guys to continue to appreciate an opportunity to get better.”
That certainly did not happen against the Celtics, who had just eight healthy bodies available for the game.
Guard Avery Bradley also scored 25 points for the Celtics, who came into the game having lost 14 of their last 16 games.
The Celtics also received 19 points apiece from forwards Jeff Green and Brandon Bass.
Point guard Phil Pressey dished out 13 assists for the second consecutive night for the Celtics.