The Boston Celtics secured their spot in the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive year after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 in Game 5 of their semi-final series.
Led by a stellar performance from Jayson Tatum, who contributed 25 points, the top-seeded Celtics dominated the Cavaliers to clinch the series with a 4-1 victory. Their focus now shifts to the Eastern Conference finals, where they await the winner of the series between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks.
Elsewhere in the NBA playoffs, Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to a crucial 3-2 series lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Doncic showcased his talent with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, securing his second consecutive triple-double to propel the Mavericks to victory.
Reflecting on their performance, Doncic emphasized the team’s mentality, stating, “It’s just our mentality. We know in the last game we played them at home, we let it go. It was our mistakes and they hit shots.”
With the opportunity to close out the series in Game 6, the Mavericks look to advance to the Western Conference finals when they face the Thunder on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Celtics eagerly await their Eastern Conference final opponents, with the outcome of the series between the Knicks and the Pacers set to determine their next challenge. Regardless of the opponent, Jaylen Brown emphasized the team’s determination to continue their winning journey, stating, “It’s a blessing, honestly, to be a part of winning. It’s been a great journey so far, but we’re not done yet. We just have to keep going.”