NBA roundup: Celtics beats Cavs, Mavs push Thunder to the brink

The Boston Celtics dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers with a score of 113-98, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive time. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Oklahoma City team from the Western Conference faced a tough 104-92 loss at home to Dallas, putting them on the verge of elimination.

In Boston, Jayson Tatum's 25 points were instrumental in the Celtics' victory over an injury-plagued Cavs team, securing a 4-1 series win. The top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference will now await the winner between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks to determine their spot in the NBA Finals.

On the other hand, Oklahoma City's playoff journey is in jeopardy following a crucial loss to Dallas. Luka Doncic's triple-double performance of 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists led the Mavericks to a 3-2 series lead. They have the opportunity to advance to the Western Conference finals with a win in Game 6 at home on Saturday.

Doncic emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and finishing strong, highlighting the team's determination to succeed. Despite a disappointing Game 4 defeat, a more relaxed approach proved beneficial in their recent victory.

Derrick Jones Jr. contributed 19 points alongside Doncic's stellar performance, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 30 points. Cleveland, despite missing key players, displayed resilience in their game against Boston, with Evan Mobley scoring 33 points and Marcus Morris Sr. adding 25 off the bench.

However, just as Celtics fans were starting to worry about a potential upset, Boston rallied with a decisive 13-2 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Tatum. This surge put them comfortably ahead by 14 points at 101-87.

Tatum, who also recorded 10 rebounds and nine assists, acknowledged that Boston had anticipated a tough battle despite Cleveland's injury-depleted lineup.

"Anyone who has played in this league understands the dynamics when a team's key players are sidelined," Tatum explained. "The remaining players often have more freedom, play with heightened confidence, and exhibit a different style of play."

"Our mindset going into this game was to persevere for however long it took," Tatum continued. "We didn't expect to secure the victory in the early quarters. We fought hard until the end."

Tatum expressed Boston's determination to break their recent poor record in the Eastern Conference finals. Since the 2016-2017 season, Boston has lost in the Eastern Conference finals four out of five times.

"Each year presents its own set of challenges," Tatum emphasized. "My teammates and I have been to the conference finals multiple times. We have faced adversity and know what it takes to overcome it. We just need to set aside individual goals and focus on surpassing that hurdle."

In Wednesday's game, Tatum was one of six Boston players who scored in double figures. Al Horford contributed 22 points, while Derrick White added 18.

Jrue Holiday finished with 13 points, and Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard each scored 11.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla praised Horford's crucial role in steadying the team during the final stretch to secure the victory.

"Tonight, you witnessed his invaluable qualities: passion, inspiration, toughness, and a competitive nature," Mazzulla commended.