Celtics overpower Cavs, reach conference finals

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points as the Boston Celtics overpowered the injury-hit Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 on Wednesday to complete a 4-1 series victory, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight year.

The top-seeded Celtics, who will face either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks in the next round, were tested by a resilient Cleveland team despite significant injuries. The Cavaliers were without Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert.

Evan Mobley led Cleveland with 33 points, and Marcus Morris Sr. added 25 off the bench. The Cavaliers managed to close within three points in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics responded with a 13-2 run, capped by a Tatum three-pointer.

“Anybody who’s played in this league understands what happens when somebody’s best players are out,” Tatum said. “The rest of the guys have more freedom. They play with a different level of confidence and they play different.”

Tatum, who also had 10 rebounds and nine assists, emphasized Boston’s preparedness for a tough game despite Cleveland’s depleted roster.

“Each year presents different challenges,” Tatum added. “We’ve been to the conference finals four or five times. We’re battle-tested. We know what it takes. We just have to put the individual things aside and try and get over that hump.”

Al Horford contributed 22 points, Derrick White had 18, Jrue Holiday scored 13, and both Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard added 11 for Boston.

With this victory, the Celtics continue their quest to overcome their recent struggles in the Eastern Conference finals, where they have fallen short in four of their last five appearances since the 2016-2017 season.