The Boston Celtics are headed to the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive year and sixth time in the past eight seasons.
The host Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-96 on Wednesday night at T.D. Gardens Arena to close out the Cavaliers in five games. St. Louisan Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Veteran center Al Horford had his best game of the playoffs with 22 points and 15 rebounds while Derrick White added 18 points.Â
Center Evan Mobley led a short-handed Cavaliers team with 33 points. The Cavs were playing without star guard Donovan Mitchell, starting center Jerrod Allen and guard Caris Levert.
Boston now awaits the winner of the other conference semifinal matchup between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. The Knicks lead 3-2 in the series, which resumes in Indiana for Game 6 on Friday night.
In the Western Conference semifinals, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the host Oklahoma City Thunder 104-92 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their best of seven series.
All-Star guard Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Guard Derrick Jones Jr. added 19 points for the Mavericks, who are one win away from advancing to the Western Conference finals for the second time in three seasons.
The series will resume on Saturday with Game 6 in Dallas at 6 p.m.
