Celtics Roll Past Cavaliers, Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

Boston on Verge of Sixth NBA Finals Appearance in 13 Seasons

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown Lead the Way as Celtics Dominate Game 5

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Boston Celtics continued their dominant playoff run on Wednesday night, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-103 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to advance to the next round.

The Celtics, who entered the series as heavy favorites, took a commanding 3-2 lead in the series and now need just one more win to reach the NBA Finals for the sixth time in the past 13 seasons.

Jayson Tatum led the way for Boston with 22 points, while Jaylen Brown added 21. Al Horford contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Marcus Smart had 16 points and 10 assists.

The Cavaliers were led by Darius Garland, who finished with 24 points. However, Cleveland was severely shorthanded as All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell missed his second consecutive game due to an ankle injury.

The Celtics dominated from the start, taking a 15-point lead after the first quarter and never looking back. They shot 52.2% from the field to Cleveland's 41.1%, and they outrebounded the Cavaliers 51-37.

Boston's defense was also impressive, holding the Cavaliers to just 34.6% shooting from three-point range. Mitchell's absence was clearly felt, as Cleveland struggled to create scoring opportunities without their leading scorer.

The Celtics will now face the winner of the other Eastern Conference semifinal matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is scheduled for Tuesday night in Boston.

As the Celtics prepare for the next round, they will be confident in their ability to win their 18th NBA championship. They have been one of the most dominant teams in the league all season long, and they are now just a few wins away from achieving their ultimate goal.