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Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers: NBA Eastern Conference finals, Game 5 live scores, blog

23rd May, 2018

LIVE SCORES

Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW

Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers

2018 NBA Eastern Conference finals, Game 5, May 24 - Q4

TD Garden, Boston, MA
Boston Celtics Cleveland Cavaliers
96 SCORE 83
31 Q1 19
21 Q2 23
23 Q3 18
20 Q4 23
Tip-off: 10:30am (AEST)
Venue: TD Garden, Boston
TV: Live, ESPN
Online: Live, Foxtel app or Foxtel now
Betting: Celtics $1.85, Cavaliers $1.95

Series score: Celtics 2 - Cavaliers 2

Game 1: Celtics 108 defeat Cavaliers 83 at TD Garden
Game 2: Celtics 107 defeat Cavaliers 94 at TD Garden
Game 3: Cavaliers 116 defeat Celtics 86 at Quicken Loans Arena
Game 4: Cavaliers 111 defeat Celtics 102 at Quicken Loans Arena

Boston Celtics (expected)
Point guard: Marcus Smart
Shooting guard: Terry Rozier
Small forward: Jayson Tatum
Power forward: Al Horford
Centre: Jayson Tatum
Bench: Guerschon Yabusele, Semi Ojeleye, Marcus Morris, Abdel Nader, Shane Larkin, Greg Monroe, Jaylen Brown

Cleveland Cavaliers (expected)
Point guard: George Hill
Shooting guard: JR Smith
Small forward: LeBron James
Power forward: Kevin Love
Centre: Tristan Thompson
Bench: Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Korver, Jose Calderon, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr, Jeff Green, Cedi Osman, Ante Zizc
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Expert
23rd May, 2018
159

The Boston Celtics have had a torrid time on the road, but they will look to restore some order against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:30am (AEST).

On paper at least, the Cavaliers should have dominated this series on the back of LeBron James and waltzed their way into the finals without raising a sweat.

But that’s not the character of Boston, who have had to be plucky right throughout the playoffs, battling a casualty ward with tens of millions of dollars worth of talent in it – both Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward haven’t played a minute of postseason basketball in 2018.

Instead of folding like a house like they were expected to either against Philadelphia or now Cleveland, they have risen to the occasion. Terry Rozier has been simply stunning, while Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have also been superb.

With three genuine weapons on the outside, it’s easy for Boston to play an unselfish brand of basketball, yet it’s their tall timber – Al Horford and Aron Baynes – who have done a serious job through the first half of the series, despite losing in Games 3 and 4.

Unfortunately for Boston, no matter how well they may be defending, they have to contend with the greatest player of all time in James.

He is getting next to no support from his Cleveland teammates, but it simply doesn’t seem to be bothering him. He went to work again during Game 4, registering 44 points in 42 minutes, shooting 17 of 28 from the field and also pulling down five boards, dishing out three dimes and grabbing a few steals throughout the contest.

They are phenomenal numbers, but it’s what we have almost come to expect from Cleveland, which can be their undoing. They weren’t great on the road at the start of the series and if that script is to be flipped, it’s up to the Cavs to get a fast start and then lock down the paint with their defence.

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Prediction
Despite the fact Boston are yet to lose a post-season game at home this season, they are ripe for the picking here with the Cavaliers rolling after a couple of all-important wins to get this series back in their grasp.

Cavaliers by 3.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 5 in this series from 10:30am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

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