Jayson Tatum delivered an outstanding performance with 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, leading the Boston Celtics to a 113-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
This victory propels the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive season.
However, the standout contribution came from Al Horford, who started in place of the injured Kristaps Porzingis.
At 37 years old, Horford scored 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out five assists in 35 minutes.
FINALIST Boston Celtics finish off Cleveland in Game 5 to advance to East Finals where it'll face New York or Indiana. BOSTON CELTICS PHOTO
His impressive stat line places him alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players aged 37 or older to achieve at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in a playoff game.
With Donovan Mitchell sidelined, the Cavaliers relied heavily on the young Evan Mobley, who stepped up with 31 points on 14-of-23 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists. Marcus Morris, a midseason acquisition, was also pivotal, contributing 25 points off the bench on 10-of-13 shooting.
In the Western Conference, Luka Doncic's triple-double powered the Dallas Mavericks to a 104-92 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving them a 3-2 lead in the semifinal series.
Doncic showcased his efficiency with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Derrick Jones Jr. scored a playoff career-high 19 points, and P.J. Washington Jr. added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Dallas shot 52.6 percent from the floor and limited Oklahoma City to 42.5 percent shooting.
The Mavericks' Game 5 victory on the road mirrors their performance in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 30 points, but no other player managed more than 13.
Oklahoma City made a significant lineup change, moving Josh Giddey to the bench and starting Isaiah Joe.
This adjustment aimed to counter the Mavericks' defensive strategy, which thrives on exploiting weaker perimeter shooters, but it was not enough to secure a win.
The Mavericks can clinch their spot in the Western Conference finals with a win at home on Saturday.
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