Cavaliers vs. Celtics score updates, highlights: Boston wins Game 5, eliminates Cleveland

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Cavaliers vs. Celtics score updates, highlights: Boston wins Game 5, eliminates Cleveland

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Thu, May 16, 2024 ·

10 min read

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It was win or go home for the short-handed Cavaliers , and although they gave the Celtics some trouble, Boston was too much in the end, and Cleveland fell 113-98 in Game 5.

With that, the Celtics eliminated the Cavaliers and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Cavs' Game 4 loss , in which they were without Donovan Mitchell , dropped them into a 3-1 series hole against the Celtics. The Cavs were also without Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert in Wednesday's Game 5.

The Cavs were upset after Game 4 — which included LeBron James as a spectator — due to the free-throw discrepancy, but they also played a role in putting themselves into the position they're now in.

With Mitchell out for Game 5, t hey needed to rely even more on Darius Garland , who scored 30 points in Monday night's loss but struggled Wednesday night in Boston.

Evan Mobley and Marcus Morris Sr. put together strong efforts for the Cavs, but it wasn't enough to extend their playoff run.

Here's how Game 5 in Boston unfolded.

Cavaliers guard Darius Garland drives the ball against Celtics guard Derrick White in the first quarter during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, May 15, 2024, in Boston.

Celtics beat Cavaliers in Game 5; Boston advances to Eastern Conference Finals

Evan Mobley and Marcus Morris Sr. had outstanding nights, but the Celtics were too much for the shorthanded Cavs, and Boston has eliminated Cleveland with a 113-98 win in Game 5 Wednesday night.

Mobley finished with a game-high 33 points on 15-of-24 shooting to go with seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. It could be argued, especially considering the stage, that Mobley's best two games with the Cavaliers were Game 2 and Game 5 in this series.

Marcus Morris Sr. came out of nowhere to score 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

But the rest of the Cavaliers offense struggled, and without Donovan Mitchell , Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen, the Celtics were too much.

Al Horford , at 37 years old, was tremendous for the Celtics, finishing with 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Jayson Tatum had a team-high 25 points to go with 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Celtics extend lead to 14 points over Cavaliers late in fourth quarter

The Celtics might have delivered the dagger.

After Al Horford yet again made the play Boston needed, grabbing an offensive rebound, Jayson Tatum found Jrue Holiday under the basket for a layup, and the Celtics pushed their lead out to 14 points with only 2:15 remaining.

Ric Flair criticizes Donovan Mitchell for missing Game 5 with calf strain

In one of the more surprising turn of events, former pro wrestler Ric Flair has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to heavily call out Donovan Mitchell for missing tonight's game with an injury .

Darius Garland slow to get up after assist to Marcus Morris Sr.; Celtics up 9 with 4 minutes left

Darius Garland drove to the hoop but went down suddenly, and he was slow to get up while seeming to favor his left leg. As Garland went down, he somehow found Marcus Morris Sr. in the corner, who buried a 3 to cut the Celtics lead to 103-92.

Garland is staying in the game as Cleveland desperately tries to extend their playoff run.

Al Horford have 5 consecutive points, Celtics lead Cavs by 14 midway through fourth quarter

The Cavs are in trouble.

Al Horford buried a corner 3 and then had an easy layup, and Jayson Tatum hit an open 3 the next time down the floor, and the Celtics have opened up a commanding 14-point lead.

Evan Mobley (25 points) and Marcus Morris Sr. (22 points) have been tremendous. But Darius Garland and Max Strus have been ice cold (combined 7-of-17), and the shorthanded Cavs just haven't had enough to keep up with Boston, who has received a terrific night from Al Horford.

Marcus Morris Sr. has 22 points, Cavaliers down 5 to Celtics

Evan Mobley and Marcus Morris have scored 18 of the Cavs' last 21 points, and those two have Cleveland within 5 points of Boston early in the fourth quarter.

But Darius Garland just still doesn't have it tonight, missing another shot.

Celtics lead Cavaliers 85-79 entering fourth quarter of Game 5

Evan Mobley and Marcus Morris Sr. are the only reasons the Cavaliers haven't already been buried in this elimination Game 5.

Mobley has a team-high 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting to go with seven rebounds and two blocks. He's been just as effective as he was in the Cavs' Game 2 in in Boston.

Morris has 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting and has been everything and more for which the Cavs could have hoped while being shorthanded.

But Darius Garland is just 3-for-13 from the floor, and Max Strus is only 3-for-9, and the Cavs trail 85-79 entering the fourth quarter.

The Cavs have a tough road ahead, though they seem to be frustrating the Celtics, who just can't seem to put Cleveland away for good.

Jayson Tatum has again been terrific with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting.

Evan Mobley scores 7 consecutive points for Cavs, who pull within 6 of Celtics

Evan Mobley is going to work against Luke Kornet of the Celtics.

Mobley has seven consecutive points for the Cavs and now has 17 and seven rebounds for the night, and the Cavs are now only down 72-66 late in the third quarter. Without this run by Mobley, the Cavs were just about done.

The Cavs could have been within one possession of the Celtics, but Darius Garland missed an open 3. He's just 3-of-13 tonight from the floor, and its a game in which they can't afford for Garland to be 3-of-13 from the floor.

Al Horford leads Celtics on 8-0 run; Boston leads 66-57 in third quarter

The Cavs pulled to within one point of Boston, and the Celtics then went on a blazing fast 8-0 run to push that lead back out to nine points.

Al Horford, at 37, is doing a little bit of everything for Boston and now has 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Celtics lead Cavaliers 58-52 at halftime

The Celtics used a 13-2 run late in the second quarter to take command of Game 5.

Marcus Morris Sr. leads the Cavs with 14 points, but he's not going to be able to carry the offense. Darius Garland has nine points on just 3-of-9 shooting from the floor, and he couldn't get a shot off at the halftime buzzer.

The Cavs have hit eight of their 19 3-point attempts. Max Strus has nine points, five rebounds and six assists.

Jayson Tatum hit a big step-back 3 in the final seconds of the quarter and was then hit with a technical foul, which looked like a weak call, after he waived off a ref for not getting a foul call. Tatum has 12 points.

Derrick White has a game-high 15, and he also had a block of Max Strus on a 3-point attempt.

Marcus Morris Sr. has 12 points, Cavaliers lead Celtics 46-43

Cavaliers forward Marcus Morris Sr. shoots over Celtics guard Derrick White in the second quarter during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, May 15, 2024, in Boston.

Marcus Morris Sr. is a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor for 12 points, and the Cavs have a 46-43 lead over the Celtics midway through the second quarter.

Though, much of Morris' value is being negated by Georges Niang , who has missed all three of his shot attempts and still looks out of sorts, as he has all series.

Max Strus seems to be taking on a lot of the ball-handling responsibilities, as he has nine points and six assists.

Cavs, Celtics tied after first quarter of Game 5

Marcus Morris Sr. has seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the bench, and Darius Garland and Max Strus each have six points as the Cavs and Celtics will enter the second quarter tied 28-28.

Derrick White has led Boston with 10 points.

The Cavs are going into a fully scrappy style of play with a ton of 3s to try to hold off elimination.

Shorthanded Cavaliers showing resiliency in Game 5; Celtics lead Cleveland 23-22

For a game in which everyone on the planet assumes the Celtics will win handily, the Cavs are doing well early on to not make it easy.

Dean Wade and Marcus Morris Sr. just hit back-to-back 3s, and Boston holds just a one-point lead, 23-22. It's the same type of 3-heavy, wide open style with which the Cavs played in Game 4. And with Mitchell, Allen and LeVert all out, its their only option.

Cavs, Celtics Game 5 score: Boston jumps out to a 16-12 lead

The Cavs, without Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, are going to have to be lights-out tonight from 3-point range to keep pace with the Celtics.

They're not off to the start they need. The Cavs have hit just one of their first five 3-point attempts.

Derrick White, meanwhile, already has eight points and has hit two 3s.

Below is some pregame information.

Cavaliers guard Darius Garland dribbles against Celtics guard Jrue Holiday in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, May 13, 2024, in Cleveland.

Donovan Mitchell injury update: All-Star guard out for Game 5

The Cavs will try to stave off elimination minus Donovan Mitchell. The All-Star guard has been listed as out.

Mitchell had been listed as questionable for Wednesday night's Game 5 in Boston. He missed Game 4 with a left calf strain, which was an extremely big blow to the Cavs' chances, as they were already searching for scoring help.

It's not just Mitchell, though. Center Jarrett Allen and guard Caris LeVert have also been ruled out for Game 5, decimating the Cavaliers rotation.

The Cavs will be even more shorthanded tonight than they were in Game 4.

Donovan Mitchell injury news: Report: Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to miss Game 5 in Boston

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell celebrates in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, May 13, 2024, in Cleveland. — What guard Donovan Mitchell decides regarding his future could have a far reaching impact on the Cleveland Cavs' offseason moves.

Donovan Mitchell stats

Donovan Mitchell had been on a scoring tear before going down with a calf injury. Over the previous five playoff games, dating back to Game 6 against the Orlando Magic , Mitchel was averaging 36.8 points per game on 51% shooting from the floor along with 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

Will Jarrett Allen play tonight? Cavaliers injury report

Cavs center Jarrett Allen, who has missed the last seven playoff games with a ribs injury, remains questionable.

Backup guard Craig Porter Jr. (sprained ankle) is listed as doubtful. Porter has missed the entire playoffs with the injury, which was suffered in the final game of the regular season.

More Cavs injury news: Caris LeVert listed on report ahead of Game 5

Backup guard Caris LeVert is listed as questionable with a knee bone bruise. LeVert has averaged 14.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in this series.

Cavs vs. Celtics predictions, betting odds

For strictly entertainment purposes only, the Cavs enter Game 5 as 15.5-point underdogs, according to the MGM Sportsbook, the largest spread of the series. The game has an point total over/under of 205.5 points.

How to watch the Cavs game tonight: What channel is Cavaliers vs. Celtics?

Wednesday night's game will be broadcast nationally on TNT.

What radio station are the Cavs on tonight?

Game 4 will be broadcast locally on the radio via WTAM (1100-AM), WMMS (100.7-FM) and WNZN (89.1-FM).

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs score vs. Boston Celtics live updates Game 5 NBA playoffs

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