Celtics dominate short-handed Heat 118-84 to advance to East semifinals in NBA Playoffs

The Boston Celtics dominated the short-handed Miami Heat in Game 5 on Wednesday night, securing a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a resounding 118-84 victory. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White led the charge for the Celtics, each scoring 25 points in the win.

Brown also contributed six assists, while White knocked down five 3-pointers to help propel Boston to victory. Sam Hauser added 17 points and Jayson Tatum chipped in with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The top-seeded Celtics never trailed in the game and held a commanding 37-point lead at one point.

The win was especially sweet for Boston, as it marked a measure of revenge against the Heat, who had defeated them in Game 7 of the conference finals last year. Miami, playing without key players, struggled throughout the game, shooting just 3 of 29 from beyond the arc.

In another playoff matchup, the Dallas Mavericks took a 3-2 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers with a decisive 123-93 victory in Game 5. Luka Doncic led the way for the Mavericks with 35 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, despite playing through a sprained right knee.

Maxi Kleber added five 3-pointers and Kyrie Irving contributed 14 points for Dallas, who now have the opportunity to clinch their first playoff series victory since 2022 in Game 6 on Friday night. The Clippers will look to force a Game 7 with a win in Dallas on Sunday if necessary.