KING ON BRINK
BOSTON — The Eastern Conference finals had been reduced to a best-of-three series, but Cavaliers star LeBron James didn’t look at it that way hours before. “Nah, it’s a best-of-one series,” James said. Wednesday night’s Game 5 at TD Garden had all of that urgency, all of that scrappiness, all of that smothering defense.
But after the Boston Celtics ran off with a convincing 96-83 victory and improved to 10-0 at home in the postseason, it is a best-of-one series. The Cavs must stave off elimination in Friday night’s Game 6 at Quicken Loans Arena.
“We’re looking forward to having an opportunity to force a Game 7,” said James, who had 26 points and 10 rebounds but also had six turnovers. “It’s up to us to see if we can come back here for one more.”
Facing the end of a James-led run that includes three consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and perhaps the end of an era if James departs again in free agency, the Cavs slipped back into familiar, destructive habits.
James’ supporting cast, save for Kevin Love, was of little help. In the first quarter, only James and Love made field goals as the Cavs once again showed they don’t have enough firepower.
After averaging 14.8 turnovers in the previous four games and committing a series-high 19 in Game 4, the Cavs gave the ball away 15 times and the Celtics capitalized for 15 points. Coach Tyronn Lue had been emphasizing it for two days, yet many of the Cavs’ miscues were of the unforced variety. y
A perfect example of Lue’s greatest reatestt fear against the younger, faster Celtics came e with 2:58 left in the third quarter when Love made a wild pass that rookie Jayson Tatum converted erted into a fastbreak layup for a 74-58 lead.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens made the lineup switch most thought would come me earlier in the series, inserting Aron Baynes alongside ongside Al Horford and moving Marcus Morris to the bench. In the first four minutes, Love took advantage, scoring eight points.
But Baynes, 6-foot-10 and 265 pounds, provided added muscle scle inside as Celtics veteran Al Hororford was held relatively in check ck by Tristan Thompson. Baynes s brought a fiery attitude, along with added power on the boards, and the Celtics claimed a 45-39 edge on the glass. The Cavs held a plus-12 rebounding g edge in the first four games.
The Cavs also struggled at the free-throw line, making 12-of-19 of-19 and were outscored 18-2 in fast-break -break points and 15-5 i n second-chance chance points.
James led the Cavs with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists before exiting with 3:11 remaining, but made 1-of-6 from 3-point range and lost six turnovers. Love contributed 14 points p and seven rebounds. Three of the Cavs starters — J.R. Smith (2 points), Thompson (1) and George Hill (7) — combined f for just 10 points as the Cavs hit their playoff-low in scoring. scorin Korver, who has become the Cavs’ t third scoring option in the postseason even though he is now coming off the bench, played only 18 minutes and m made 2-of-6 field goals, including 2-of-5 from long lon range. The Celtics had five players in double figures, led by Tatum with 24 points, seven reb rebounds and four assists. Jaylen Jayle Brown added 17 point points. Horford contribu tributed 15 points an and 12 rebounds, a and Baynes adde ed six points and se seven rebounds. T The Celtics also used their Game 1 stoppe stopper, Morris, on James. Accordin According to ESPN Stats & Info, Morri Morris guarded James on 15 first-half possessions p and the Cavs went 1-f 1-for-12 with two turnovers on those t trips, with James going 0-for-1.