On May 16, 2024, the night sky over Boston was lit up with the Green Army's victory cheers. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Boston Celtics played at home against the injury-ridden Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the Cavaliers missing three key players, the Celtics didn't take it lightly, beating them 113-98 to comfortably advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 4-1 overall score. It wasn't just a win in one game, it was another testament to Celtic's indomitable and never-say-die spirit.
At the beginning of the game, the two sides launched a fierce duel. The Celtics took advantage of their home-court advantage and showed accurate outside shooting in the opening game, hitting consecutive three-pointers. Although the Cavaliers were not in order, they still fought tenaciously, and the two sides fought to a 28-all tie at the end of the first quarter. This-for-tat situation not only shows the hard work of both sides, but also indicates a tough battle.
Entering the second quarter, the atmosphere on the court was even hotter. Both the Celtics and the Cavaliers went on a three-point rain offense, and each other's scores were changed as frequently as a board. The Celtics, led by Tatum, solidified their defense and strengthened their offense, eventually leading 58-52 before halftime. Tatum's three-pointer before halftime not only added points to the team, but also injected a shot in the arm for the whole team.
In the second half, the Celtics' tactics were in place, especially in the third quarter. In the face of the Cavaliers' fierce counterattack, the Celtics did not let their guard down, but extended the lead through continuous offensive waves. Horford, in particular, helped his team steady with consecutive scoring and key three-pointers, and the Celtics held the lead 85-78 at the end of the third quarter.
Despite the difficulties of the lack of personnel, the knights, led by Mobley and Maurice, showed an unyielding fighting spirit. Mobley's strong performance on the inside and Morris's efficient scoring have helped the team narrow the gap many times. However, due to the poor form of Garland, the core of the backcourt, the Cavaliers' overall attack power has decreased, and they were unable to achieve a comeback before the end.
In the final quarter of the game, the decisive moment came. The Celtics were even better in the quarter, going on an 11-2 run to push the deficit to 14 points. This wave of offensive effectively hit the morale of the knights and ensured the fruits of victory. At the end of the game, the Celtics won 113-98, and the Celtics once again stepped into the Eastern Conference Finals amid the cheers of the fans.
The Boston Celtics' victory highlighted the team's depth and teamwork. Tatum almost completed a triple-double, not only contributing to the scoring, but also creating countless opportunities for his teammates in rebounding and assists. Horford's double-10 results also proved his value as a veteran, and his consistent performances in key moments set the stage for the team's victory. In addition, players such as White and Smart also showed the Celtics' broad-mindedness and outstanding strength through the input of key balls.
As the days of the Eastern Conference Finals draw closer, the atmosphere on the Boston Celtics' practice court is getting tense. The coach and the players knew that the next game would be unlike any before. During the tactical meeting, the coaching staff analysed the footage of the potential opponent's game in detail, from the opponent's defensive habits to the attacking patterns. The players have strengthened their physical and technical skills through additional training, especially in the efficiency of three-point shooting and fast-break transitions.
In every corner of the city, from the front pages of newspapers to sports news on television, Celtic news is everywhere. Media coverage of Celtic dominates almost all sports headlines, and their praise and high expectations for Celtic continue to inspire fans. Fans showed their support in a variety of ways, whether it was sharing the team's highlights on social media or waiting in long lines outside the arena to buy tickets to the playoffs.