First qualifying ball for the Celtics against the Ridersat home what's more, and the best team of the regular season did not tremble (113-98) to validate their ticket for a new conference final in the East, at the end of this Game 5.
Without Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen or Caris LeVert, the step was far too high for Clevelandled by Evan Mobley (33 points) and Marcus Morris (25 points), but who was especially sanctioned by the Jayson Tatum (25 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 steals), Al Horford (22 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks) or Derrick White (18 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds), side Boston.
Cleveland is fighting well, but Boston is stronger
The match starts on a balanced basis (28-28), with the Cavaliers resisting the great external success of the Celtics, embodied by Derrick White, in particular by causing fouls and taking what the green defense gives them, from afar like up close. Good entries from Marcus Morris and Sam Merrill help Cleveland continue to stay in the game, collectively, despite White, but also Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. A good end to the half, however, allowed the C's, still inspired at 3-points, to end up going ahead with an 18-6 as run (58-52)
Without complex, like Evan Mobley who successfully insists in the paint, the Cavaliers cling as best they can to the scoreboard, despite the attempts at acceleration signed Jayson Tatum on the Celtics side, not far from place a KO (85-78). It was finally in the fourth quarter that Boston broke away for good, led by Jrue Holiday and Al Horford. A 13-2 thus knocks out the teammates of Evan Mobley and Marcus Morris, with no response to the quality of Celtic shooting, and Cleveland therefore lays down its arms, without having to be ashamed of its collective performance with a B, or even C, team (113 -98).
TO REMEMBER
– Sixth conference final in eight seasons for Boston. Since 2017, the Celtics have reached the conference final six times: 2017, but also 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Obviously, no other franchise has done better over the period and the C's will now have to assume their rank against the Knicks or the Pacers in the next round, to reach the Finals for the second time – only – after 2022. They will advance whatever happens as huge favorites, but watch out for slackening in the home stretch…
– Cleveland falls with weapons in hand. Difficult – if not impossible – to see the Cavaliers hold up against this Celtics team, certainly still without Kristaps Porzingis, while they were missing… three of their six most playing time. In this case : Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert. JB Bickerstaff's men therefore did their best to exist but, over time, this showed its limits. It is therefore a tasteless end to the season, but with sores, for these Cavs who now risk experiencing an eventful summer, given the uncertainty surrounding the future of “Spida” Mitchell…
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
