Cavaliers fall to the Celtics 113-98 in Game 5 of Eastern semis
Celtics close out series, advance to conference finals
5 takeaways as Boston pushes Cleveland to the brink
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Boston Celtics beat the decibels out of Loudville Saturday night.
With their 113-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics grabbed a commanding 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. A valiant effort from the Cavaliers without Donovan Mitchell couldn't prevent the Celtics from grabbing a stranglehold on the series.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points, while Jaylen Brown added 28. The Celtics also got key contributions from Marcus Smart (18 points) and Robert Williams III (12 points, 10 rebounds).
The Cavaliers were led by Darius Garland's 27 points. Jarrett Allen added 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Evan Mobley chipped in with 16 points.
The Celtics took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 31-18. Tatum was dominant in the period, scoring 13 points.
The Cavaliers made a run in the fourth quarter, cutting their deficit to single digits. But the Celtics were able to close out the game at the free-throw line.
The Celtics will now host the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Boston.
5 takeaways from the game
- The Celtics are playing with a lot of confidence right now. They've won three straight games in the series and are looking like the team to beat in the East.
- Jayson Tatum is playing like an MVP. He's averaging 30.0 points per game in the series and has been the Celtics' best player.
- The Cavaliers are missing Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is the team's leading scorer and his absence has been a major blow.
- The Celtics' defense is suffocating. They're holding the Cavaliers to just 40.3% shooting from the field.
- The Celtics are a tough team to beat at home. They're now 6-0 at TD Garden in the playoffs.
Conclusion
The Celtics are on the verge of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. They'll need to win one more game in Cleveland, but they're playing with a lot of confidence right now. The Cavaliers will need to find a way to slow down Tatum and get more production from their supporting cast if they want to extend the series.
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