BOSTON – It was a reminder of what Terry Rozier has done in this city, and what he still hopes to do for a long time in this league. 

It is something the fourth-year Celtics guard has not been able to do often this year playing behind five-time All-Star Kyrie Irving. But with Irving out of action for Wednesday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with flu symptoms, it was something Rozier did more than capably in his place in a 125-103 blowout victory. [...]

BOSTON – It was a reminder of what Terry Rozier has done in this city, and what he still hopes to do for a long time in this league. 

It is something the fourth-year Celtics guard has not been able to do often this year playing behind five-time All-Star Kyrie Irving. But with Irving out of action for Wednesday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with flu symptoms, it was something Rozier did more than capably in his place in a 125-103 blowout victory. 

It has not been the easiest season for Rozier as he went from playoff star to limited shifts off the bench where his uneven play has led to some backlash from those who fawned over his every big shot and scoring flurry during last year’s postseason. 

But the restricted free agent upon this season’s end got a chance Wednesday to flash back to his greatest hits of just eight months ago and made the most of it. 

Rozier hit all eight of his shots in the first half – including a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer – on his way to 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting, with eight rebounds and six assists, as he guided the Celtics to their fifth straight victory. 

With Al Horford also out of the game for a rest night, there were plenty of Celtics eager to step up into filling the scoring void as Jaylen Brown scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, Gordon Hayward scored 18, Jayson Tatum scored 17, Marcus Morris scored 11 and Brad Wanamaker chipped in 11 points with three 3-pointers off the bench. 

With a 19-point lead down to 12 entering the fourth, the Celtics went in for the kill as a Hayward layup, Brown basket and Tatum three-point play added up to a 7-0 run to start the quarter and 99-80 lead with 10:04 on the clock. 

A Brown basket made it a game-high 21-point lead before the Cavaliers shot back with five in a row. Rozier then found Brown for a corner 3-pointer and 108-89 gap with 8:59 remaining. Rozier hit Brown cutting to the basket for a 112-91 lead with 4:50 left, and Hayward’s free throws made it a 23-point game. 

The Cavaliers got within 19 when Rozier tried to cap his night in ultimate style with a driving slam that went off the back rim. Cleveland was down 17 when Hayward drove for a 118-99 lead with 2:43 to play and Celtics coach Brad Stevens emptied the bench as Boston extended its win streak to 10 straight at TD Garden heading into Saturday night’s showdown against the Golden State Warriors. 

Rozier scored 14 of Boston’s first 16 points in the first 7:20 of the game and finished the first quarter with 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting. But the Celtics had a hard time shaking the lowly Cavaliers early as they trailed 30-25 late in the first quarter. 

A Wanamaker 3-pointer put the Celtics back ahead at 38-36 with 8:16 left in the first half. Cleveland briefly retook the lead before a Smart 3-pointer, Morris basket and five straight points from Wanamaker make it a 19-5 run overall for a 48-39 lead with 5:06 to go in the quarter. 

Rozier then returned to the court and hit two more 3-pointers – including a 31-footer at the buzzer – to finish the half 8-for-8 for 22 points as the Celtics hit the half up 65-50. 

A Tatum basket and Tatum steal and slam pushed the gap to 19 with 7:34 left in the third, and the Celtics were up 86-67 on a Robert Williams slam with 3:33 on the clock, but the Cavaliers managed to hang around in cutting the deficit down to 12 entering the fourth.