The Boston Celtics became the first team to punch their ticket to the conference finals in the 2024 NBA playoffs. The Celtics ousted the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night with a Game 5 win. The victory moved Boston to the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth time in the last eight years and the third year in a row.

The Celtics will be heavy favorites against either the injury-depleted Knicks or the inexperienced Pacers for any potential matchup in the Conference Finals. The Pacers will look to keep their season alive against the Knicks back in Indiana on Friday night after an ugly blowout loss to New York in Game 5.

The Boston Celtics have reached their third straight Eastern Conference finals, where an increase in degree of difficulty almost certainly awaits. The owners of the NBA's best record in the regular season put away the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 113-98 win on Wednesday,