The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, clinching the series 4-1 to advance to their third consecutive Eastern Conference Finals.
Celtics guard all-star guard Jayson Tatum helped lead his team back to the Eastern Conference Finals by dropping a team-high 25 points, grabbing ten rebounds, dishing out nine assists, capturing four steals, and only turning the ball over once. Tatum is leading the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists this NBA postseason and has been the most consistent player for the Celtics.
All five of Boston’s starters recorded double-digit scoring, including Celtics center Al Horford, who captured a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double. Horford’s 15 rebounds helped the Celtics out-rebound the Cavaliers by 18 boards, 51-33. Horford and Tatum were the key players in the Celtics close-out game against the Cavaliers, becoming the first team in the NBA to advance to their respective conference finals.
CELTICS ARE HEADED TO THE CONFERENCE FINALS FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR ☘️ pic.twitter.com/L7pp0sFPWo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 16, 2024
Boston will take on either the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals; the Knicks currently lead the Pacers 3-2 in the series. They will travel to Indiana to play Game 6, where the Knicks hope to close out the series and the Pacers hope to force a Game 7.
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