Cavs vs. Celtics 2018: Recap, highlights & reaction for Game 5

Jayson Tatum scored 24 points to lead a balanced Celtics scoring attack, helping with Boston’s lockdown defense that beat the Cavaliers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics have a 3-2 series lead, just one win away from their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2010.

That was the last NBA Finals that didn’t feature LeBron James, who will need some help if he is to advance to an eighth consecutive trip to the championship round. James led all scorers with 26 points on Wednesday night, on 11-of-22 shooting, but the rest of the Cavaliers shot just 38.5%.

Tatum had four steals and two blocks in Game 5 to go with his seven rebounds. Al Horford added 15 points and 12 rebounds in the win for the Celtics, who had five players score in double figures.

Horford was on the business end of an alley oop that killed a 9-0 Cavs run midway through the fourth quarter.

The Celtics improved to 10-0 at TD Garden this postseason. Game 6 is Friday night in Cleveland.

Boston increased their lead to 21 points early in the fourth quarter, but a 9-0 run by the Cavs gives them at least a shred of hope.

Things are still pretty one-sided as Boston is just too much for LeBron and the Cavs. LeBron leads all Cavs scorers with 24, but he’ll need more help from his supporting cast if Cleveland hopes to climb back in this one.

Boston was well in control in the first half, taking a double-digit lead into the break. The Celtics had a balanced scoring attack with five players in between seven and 12 points, led by Jayson Tatum, who also had four boards and three assists.

LeBron James led all scorers with 16 for Cleveland, on 7-for-11 shooting. His Cavaliers teammates shot just 32% (8-for-25). But at least LeBron led all players in pants in the paint:

It was probably talcum powder, but still.

There was a stoppage to deal with a brief skirmish after a nice defensive play by Marcus Morris. There were some words and a little bit of shoving, but ultimately nothing much. Morris and Larry Nance Jr. got double technicals upon review, and Terry Rozier was assessed a technical foul as well.

Maybe Nance got those slashes at Logan Airport.

It was all Boston in the last seven minutes of the opening quarter. The Celtics hit six threes in the quarter (after making nine all game on Monday) and limited Cleveland to basically a two-man team. Kevin Love (10) LeBron James (eight) combined for 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting, while the rest of the Cavs combined for a single point and missed all five shots.

Jayson Tatum had nine points and two steals to set the tone for the Celtics.

Sounds like all aspects of the game fell under Brad Stevens’ marching orders of “Control what you can control.”

Marcus Smart missed 14 of his 17 three-point attempts in the first four games of this series. His first shot in Game 5 though capped a 10-3 scoring run for Boston.

Kevin Love is averaging 15.3 points in this series, second to LeBron on the Cavs, and Cleveland is looking for him early in Game 5. He has eight quick points on 3-of-4 shooting, including making both tries from distance.

How important is winning Game 5 in a best-of-seven series? Very important, it seems:

There is a lot of green at the TD Garden, with every seat adorned with “Protect the parquet” T-shirts. Boston is 9-0 at home during these playoffs.

The Boston Celtics looked to be running away with their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers two games in, but the tide has turned. The Cavs are alive again thanks to LeBron James’ greatness and the Celtics’ youth showing for the first time in months.

James is averaging 34 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, a steal, and a block on 55 percent shooting from the field in 41 minutes per game in the playoffs. Hahahaha. In Cleveland’s Game 4 win to tie the series, he made 17-of-28 shots from the field for a 44-point night. He thrives both when the pressure is on and when it isn’t. There’s no stopping him until he retires.

Date: May 23

Where: TD Garden, Boston

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Stream: Watch ESPN

The focus has to be on everyone else for Boston. Kyle Korver’s scored 14 points in each of the Cavs’ wins this series, shooting 6-of-9 from behind the arc. He’s been the unexpected third scorer Cleveland’s needed desperately. The Celtics will also have to find answers for Tristan Thompson, who’s scored 23 points combined in the wins.

Cleveland looks game-ready now.

This series isn’t what it was a week ago.