NBA Playoffs: Celtics eliminate Heat to advance, Mavericks defeat Clippers in Game 5

Sports Daypop

The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat on Wednesday night in Game 5 to close out the opening-round playoff series at TD Garden. Jaylen Brown finished with 25 points and six rebounds, and Derrick White had 25 points and six rebounds, while Jayson Tatum finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds

The Celtics won all four games in this series with double digits, and won by an average of 22 points per contest; they advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the seventh time in the last eight seasons, where they’ll meet the winner of the Cleveland Cavaliers-Orlando Magic series (Cleveland holds a 3-2 series lead headed into Friday’s Game 6).

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The Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angels Clippers in a 123-93 victory Wednesday night, to take a 3-2 lead in the first-round series. Luka Doncic – playing on a sprained right knee and dealing with illness – scored 35 points in the second half and added 10 assists and seven rebounds, while Maxi Kleber hit five 3-pointers and Kyrie Irving added 14 points for the Mavericks on route to the win.

Game 6 will take place on Friday night in Dallas (Game 7 will be back in Los Angeles on Sunday, if necessary).

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