NBA: Boston Celtics advance into Eastern Conference finals
BOSTON — It was the ending that many expected—the Boston Celtics advance to the NBA Eastern Conference finals for the third straight season. All-Star Jayson Tatum had 25 points and secured 10 rebounds in last night's matchup at the sold-out TD Garden. The Cleveland Cavaliers combatted despite missing key components to their roster: Donovan Mitchell, who's out due to a calf injury, center Jarrett Allen (rib), and critical reserve Caris LeVert (knee). With a battered roster, the Cavaliers still put in great effort, but the Celtics advanced in the end.
The final score was 113-98 on Wednesday, with an explosive performance from Al Horford, who scored 22 points, retrieved 15 rebounds, and shot six of Boston's 19 3-pointers to propel them to a 4-1 series win.
“It's special. It's something that - it's hard to do," said Al Horford. "It's very difficult to do. And it means a lot to me. I'm very proud of just the work that our guys continue to put in”.
It was a masterclass in rebounding for Horford, and he also had a high-scoring night. The 38-year-old veteran has an impressive resume. In his six seasons with the Celtics, he has been to five Eastern Conference Finals. He certainly understands what it takes to win and be at the top of the league.
The Celtics await the winner of the nail-biting matchup between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers, where the Knicks currently lead 3-2 in the series.
