NBA playoffs: Celtics Thump Cavaliers to Qualify for Third Straight Eastern Conference Finals
Jayson Tatum starred with 25 points and 10 rebounds as the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 to qualify for the third straight Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.
Horford was another star of the night. He contributed 22 points, 15 rebounds and five assists to help the Celtics register their third consecutive series and wrap the series in five games.
“We had a golden chance at home to take care of this, and I knew it was going to take a lot more than that,” said Horford, who became the only player 37 years or older to record a 20-point, 15-rebound, five-assist playoff game in NBA history along with LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
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Speaking about his record, Horford said, “It’s special. It’s hard to do. … This is another positive step of where we want to get to.”
The Celtics will now face the winner of the encounter between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. New York leads that series 3-2.
Jaylen Brown will appear in his sixth conference finals and the fifth for Tatum. When asked, Tatum described it as a result of a strong team culture.
“It just shows the character of the team, the organization. People might think it’s a given we’re supposed to be here,” Tatum said. “We’re all in this together. … We’re doing something right.
