Boston Celtics secured a 113-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers to claim a 4-1 series win and advance to their third consecutive Eastern Conference finals. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-92, putting the Thunder on the brink of elimination. Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 25 points, while Luka Doncic posted a triple-double for the Mavericks with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
The Celtics will now await the winner of the series between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. On the other hand, the Mavericks are one win away from reaching the Western Conference finals as they lead the series against the Thunder 3-2.
Despite missing key players due to injuries, the Cavaliers put up a tough fight against the Celtics, with Evan Mobley scoring 33 points. However, a late surge by Boston, including a crucial three-pointer by Tatum, secured the win. Tatum emphasized the Celtics’ determination to break their playoff curse and finally make it to the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, Doncic expressed confidence in the Mavericks’ ability to close out the series in Game 6.