Celtics Secure Spot In Eastern Conference Finals For Third Year, Mavericks Gain Upper Hand

Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists as they secured a 113-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive season. Al Horford contributed 22 points, 15 rebounds, and six of Boston's 19 three-pointers. Derrick White added 18 points, including four three-pointers, while Jrue Holiday scored 13.

The Celtics will face either Indiana or the Knicks in the next round, with New York currently leading their series 3-2. Evan Mobley scored a playoff career-high 33 points for the Cavaliers, and Marcus Morris Sr. added 25 points with five three-pointers. Cleveland was without All-Star Donovan Mitchell (calf), center Jarrett Allen (rib), and key reserve Caris LeVert (knee).

Cleveland narrowed the gap to 88-85 early in the fourth quarter on Mobley's dunk, but Boston responded with a decisive 13-2 run capped by Tatum's three-pointer.

series wrapped pic.twitter.com/5hosScw9a6 Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 16, 2024

Luka Dončić recorded a 31-point triple-double as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Dončić shot 12 of 22 from the field and added 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his sixth career playoff triple-double. He averaged 22 points on 39 percent shooting through the first four games of the series.

Derrick Jones Jr. scored a playoff career-high 19 points, and P.J. Washington contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas. The Mavericks shot an impressive 52.6 percent from the floor and held a significant rebounding advantage at 46-33.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 30 points, but no other teammate scored more than 13 points. Dallas extended their lead to 18 points early in the fourth quarter, but Oklahoma City reduced the deficit to seven points on Chet Holmgren's dunk with just over five minutes remaining. However, Washington's subsequent three-pointer and dunk ensured that the Thunder never got closer than nine points for the rest of the game.

More work to do.@ModeloUSA // #OneForDallas #MFFL pic.twitter.com/mNGtlhWQPH Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 16, 2024