On May 16, 2024, the Boston Celtics secured a 113-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive season. Jayson Tatum led the team with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Al Horford contributed significantly with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. The Cavaliers, missing key players, fought hard but couldn’t keep up in the final quarter.
Jayson Tatum Leads the Charge
Jayson Tatum scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the Boston Celtics to a 113-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. This win secured Boston’s place in the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive season.
Horford’s All-Around Performance
Al Horford added 22 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. He also hit six of Boston’s 19 three-pointers. Horford’s performance placed him in the company of LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as one of the few players 37 or older to record a 20-point, 15-rebound, five-assist game in the playoffs.
Celtics Show Strong Team Culture
Jaylen Brown, heading into his sixth conference finals, and Tatum, into his fifth, highlighted the strong team culture. Tatum commented on the unity and character of the team, emphasizing their collective effort and determination.
Cavaliers’ Short-Handed Effort
Despite missing key players Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert, Cleveland stayed competitive. Evan Mobley scored a playoff career-high 33 points. Marcus Morris Sr. contributed 25 points, including five three-pointers. Cleveland trailed closely until Boston’s 13-2 run in the fourth quarter sealed the game.
Future Uncertainties for Cleveland
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised his team’s resilience in a challenging season. With Mitchell’s future in Cleveland uncertain and Bickerstaff’s coaching position in question, the Cavs face a summer of potential changes.
Key Points
- Jayson Tatum: 25 points, 10 rebounds.
- Al Horford: 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, six three-pointers.
- Evan Mobley: 33 points, seven rebounds.
- Marcus Morris Sr.: 25 points, five three-pointers.
- Cavaliers’ Key Players Missing: Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Match Player Stats
Cleveland Cavaliers:
| PLAYER | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac Okoro | 12:27 | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Dean Wade | 21:33 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -27 |
| Evan Mobley | 43:25 | 15 | 24 | 62.5 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 33 | -15 |
| Max Strus | 44:38 | 3 | 10 | 30.0 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 3 | 3 | 100 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 12 | -12 |
| Darius Garland | 44:06 | 4 | 17 | 23.5 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 3 | 3 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | -16 |
| Marcus Morris Sr. | 33:30 | 10 | 13 | 76.9 | 5 | 6 | 83.3 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | -13 |
| Sam Merrill | 27:44 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
| Tristan Thompson | 4:35 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Georges Niang | 8:02 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Jarrett Allen | DND – Injury/Illness | |||||||||||||||||||
| Damian Jones | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| Caris LeVert | DND – Injury/Illness | |||||||||||||||||||
| Donovan Mitchell | DND – Injury/Illness | |||||||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | 38 | 79 | 48.1 | 13 | 31 | 41.9 | 9 | 12 | 75.0 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 98 | -15 | |
Boston Celtics:
| PLAYER | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Brown | 40:44 | 4 | 9 | 44.4 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 14 | |
| Jayson Tatum | 43:21 | 9 | 16 | 56.3 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 4 | 4 | 100.0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 18 | |
| Al Horford | 34:58 | 8 | 15 | 53.3 | 6 | 13 | 46.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 26 | |
| Derrick White | 36:08 | 7 | 17 | 41.2 | 4 | 9 | 44.4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 17 | |
| Jrue Holiday | 41:22 | 5 | 9 | 55.6 | 1 | 4 | 25.0 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 21 | |
| Luke Kornet | 12:14 | 3 | 3 | 100.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | -9 | |
| Payton Pritchard | 21:17 | 4 | 7 | 57.1 | 3 | 4 | 75.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | -10 | ||
| Sam Hauser | 9:56 | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -2 | |
| Oshae Brissett | DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Svi Mykhailiuk | DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Neemias Queta | DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaden Springer | DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Xavier Tillman | DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jordan Walsh | DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | 42 | 80 | 52.5 | 19 | 43 | 44.2 | 10 | 12 | 83.3 | 11 | 32 | 43 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 113 | 15 | ||
Summary
The Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum’s 25 points and Al Horford’s all-around performance, defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98, advancing to their third consecutive Eastern Conference finals.
