The Boston Celtics, demonstrating their prowess as the NBA regular season’s top team, secured a spot in their third consecutive Eastern Conference finals by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 on Wednesday, concluding the series in five games, told ESPN. Their next challenge lies ahead as they will encounter either the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers, aiming for a coveted NBA Finals berth.
Despite facing a significantly weakened Cavaliers squad missing key players like All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, All-Star center Jarrett Allen, and veteran Caris LeVert in Game 5, the Celtics’ victory underscored their resilience and strategic depth. “The Cavaliers entered Wednesday in a dire situation,” and this advantage was not lost on the Celtics, who have previously navigated through injuries to their opponents including the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler.
With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined due to a calf strain, the Celtics themselves were not at full strength. However, they have consistently adapted to such challenges throughout the playoffs. “The Celtics can’t be faulted for defeating teams with injuries,” as it reflects the unpredictable nature of postseason play.
The Celtics clinched their victory with a decisive 13-2 run early in the fourth quarter, spearheaded by Jayson Tatum’s near triple-double performance of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Al Horford notably stepped up, delivering a commanding presence with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, joining NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James in achieving such impressive stats in a playoff game past the age of 37, reported by AP News.
On the Cavaliers’ side, young star Evan Mobley took charge in Mitchell’s absence, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and four assists. Marcus Morris also made a significant impact, contributing 25 points off the bench, showcasing the depth and potential within the Cavaliers’ lineup despite the series loss.
Jayson Tatum did a bit of everything to lead the @celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals ‼️
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
☘️ 25 PTS
☘️ 10 REB
☘️ 9 AST
☘️ 4 STL
☘️ 3 3PM
Boston makes their 3rd straight ECF appearance and awaits the winner of New York/Indiana. pic.twitter.com/PVUSOEKBut
Al Horford becomes the oldest player in NBA history to record a 20+ PT, 10+ REB, 5+ 3PT, 5+ AST playoff game, passing LeBron James.#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/yEyGWqGn1e
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 16, 2024
Back-to-back triples… Marcus Morris Sr. is having himself a night! 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
20 PTS, 8-10 FGM, 4-4 3PM
📺 CLE-BOS Game 5 on TNT pic.twitter.com/zMYfiDDLrE
Marcus Morris Sr. is 5/5 with 12 points midway through the 2nd quarter for the Cavs! 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2024
BOS leads 3-1 | Game 5 on TNT pic.twitter.com/9poAmkryQm
Al Horford is the first player 36 or older to have at least 3 three-pointers and 3 blocks in the first half of a playoff game during the play-by-play era.
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) May 16, 2024
Cavs have outscored the Celtics by 11 points in the 12 minutes Al Horford has been out of Game 5.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) May 16, 2024
9-3 Cleveland run, 72-66 Boston, 3:53 left 3rd.
Back-to-back triples… Marcus Morris Sr. is having himself a night! 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
20 PTS, 8-10 FGM, 4-4 3PM
📺 CLE-BOS Game 5 on TNT pic.twitter.com/zMYfiDDLrE