Celtics close to eliminating James and Cavaliers

WASHINGTON: The Boston Celtics, reinvigorated by a return home, beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-83 on Wednesday to move within one win of reaching the NBA Finals.

Rookie Jayson Tatum scored 24 points to lead five Boston players in double figures as the Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James led Cleveland with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

But James looked at times as if he were feeling the effects of the heavy load he has carried for the Cavs in these playoffs, coughing up six of Cleveland’s 15 turnovers, including four in the second half.

“I think everybody at this point is tired or worn down or whatever the case may be,” James said.

Kevin Love, with 14 points, was the only other player to score in double figures for the Cavs, who host game six today trying to stay on track for a fourth straight trip to the Finals.

Game seven, if needed, will be back in Boston on Sunday.

James himself is seeking an eighth straight trip to the title series, although he said that streak wouldn’t be on his mind today.

“Not at all,” he said. “It’s just all about just win every game and it should put us in position to play for a championship.

“We look forward to having an opportunity to force a game seven. It’s up to us to see if we can come back here (to Boston) for one more.”

The winner of the series will play either the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets for the NBA crown. The Western Conference rivals are locked at 2-2 in their series.

Tatum said there’s no reason they can’t wrap up the series today, even though so far the home team has won every game in the series.

“It’s my first year. We’re one win away from going to the Finals. It doesn’t get any better than that,” Tatum said.

“I didn’t think we played well tonight at all,” said Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue. “So now we’ve got to go home, win game six and come back here for game seven.”