BOSTON – The Celtics were favored to beat the Cavaliers even before three of Cleveland’s top six players – including star guard Donovan Mitchell – were missing Game 5 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night.
And yet, despite this, Boston found itself in a one-possession game early in the fourth quarter — facing the prospect of another painful loss on its home court in the postseason, an all-too-familiar scenario in recent years. Is.
Thanks to Jayson Tatum’s 25 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, as well as an inspirational performance from the team’s oldest player, Al Horford, Boston escaped with a 113–98 victory – and, with it, a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. Third consecutive season, and sixth time in the last eight years.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said, “Close-out games are tough. It’s the level of stress, anxiety, frustration; it takes whatever it takes.” “You have to play 48 runs – hopefully, sometimes maybe even more.
“And at the end of the day, you just have to keep going… keep overcoming the things that you can control.”
Boston now awaits the winner of the other Eastern Conference semifinal between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers, with New York leading 3-2, heading into Friday’s Game 6 in Indianapolis, with the conference finals set to begin Sunday afternoon or Tuesday at TD Garden. Night.
“It just shows the character of the team, the organization,” Tatum said of Boston advancing to the conference finals for the fifth time in seven NBA seasons. “People may think it’s a given that we should be here, but I give a lot of credit to all the front office guys, the coaching staff, the trainers, the guys handing out equipment, the ball boys, the chefs, the cooks, the security team, we Everyone’s in this together, I mean it.
“Everyone has an impact on each other, and we all influence each other to help us win and build this culture of ours. Everyone should be proud of themselves. Obviously, this end No matter what, we want to win a championship, but we’re doing something right.”
However, for much of the first half of Wednesday night it looked like that might not happen, despite Cleveland playing without Mitchell (left calf strain); guard Caris LeVert (left kneecap), Mitchell’s replacement in the starting lineup in Game 4; and starting center Jarrett Allen, who missed his eighth consecutive game with a rib injury.
Cleveland led much of the first half – largely due to the red-hot shooting performance of former Celtic Marcus Morris Sr., who had 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the opening 24 minutes – before Boston eventually scored 58 points. Make it. -52 ahead at halftime.
It was the latest example of how the Celtics have played much differently at home than on the road over the last few playoffs. Entering Wednesday’s action, Boston had gone 14-14 at TD Garden since the beginning of the 2022 playoffs — the best home win record in three postseasons in NBA history, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Most games played without playing (28). This included missing Game 2 of Boston’s first-round series against the Miami Heat and this series against Cleveland, with both opponents missing key contributors due to injuries.
Ultimately, though, Boston was able to regain some lead after that slow start — and inject some energy into its home crowd — behind several hustle plays from Horford, who was just a few weeks away from his 38th birthday and Far is in his 17th NBA season. After shooting 4-for-22 from 3-point range in the first four games of the series, including 0-for-10 in the two games in Cleveland, Horford hit six in Game 5, and he repeatedly showed his energy. Kept the game alive. ,
“It feels great because we won,” said Horford, who finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in 35 minutes. “That’s the only satisfaction I get from it.
“But I’m happy because I was able to help the team win this game. We have to give credit to Cleveland. They were finished and they still didn’t give up. They really pushed us to the brink.”
The Cavaliers certainly did that, thanks to the best offensive game in his young playoff career from third-year big man Evan Mobley, who scored 33 points on 15-24 shooting in 43 minutes in Allen’s absence. Meanwhile, Morris finished with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
But Boston — including Horford — shut down Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, holding him to 11 points on 4-for-17 shooting after scoring 30 in Game 4 in Mitchell’s absence, with the veteran big man making several saves. The bar switched on that. in the fourth quarter and prevented the smaller, faster guard from scoring.
Boston’s sharp edge in talent ultimately allowed the Celtics to tire the Cavaliers and pull away down the stretch. And, after Horford was pulled to a massive ovation in the closing moments, he and the Celtics were officially off to another trip to the conference finals.
Horford said, “Joe talked about us individually taking on the challenge defensively and it was one of those nights – as a guy, we had to look in the mirror and step up and do our best.” Had to try.” The challenge of slowing down Garland at the end of the game. “And for me, it’s just trying to do everything I can and utilize my length and just stay solid, and accept that challenge from time to time.”
