Celtics close on finals spot

THE Boston Celtics beat the Washington Wizards 123-101 to move to within a game of a place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference final.

The hosts started strongly at TD Garden yesterday and never looked back, sealing a win which moved them 3-2 ahead in the seven-game series.

Avery Bradley led the scoring for Boston with 29 points to make sure Washington need to win game six at the Verizon Centre tomorrow to keep alive hopes of facing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the final.