:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59687189/usa_today_10604016.0.jpg)
With the Celtics’ Game 5 win Wednesday night, the Cavaliers have their next opponent.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland is facing a familiar opponent in Boston. In the 2015 playoffs, Cleveland swept Boston in the first round, but lost Kevin Love to a shoulder injury in the process. Last season, the Cavs beat the Celtics 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
In the regular season this year, the Cavs went 2-1 against the Celtics with the last win coming on Feb. 11 — the same day Jordan Clarkson, George Hill, Rodney Hood and Larry Nance Jr. made their Cavs debuts in Boston. Boston made it to the Eastern Conference Finals by beating the Bucks and then the 76ers.
The missing element to the series is ex-Cavalier, and current Celtic, Kyrie Irving. He is out for the season — and missing out a chance to beat his old team, led by his old running mate — after undergoing knee surgery and being ruled out for the entire playoffs.
The Celtics, as the No. 2 seed, will have homecourt advantage over the No. 4 seed Cavaliers. Cleveland, however, has opened up as the betting favorite.
Below is the full series schedule:
Eastern Conference Finals Schedule
| Game | Matchup | TV | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Matchup | TV | Date/Time |
| Game 1 | CLE at BOS | ABC | 5/13 3:30 p.m ET |
| Game 2 | CLE at BOS | ESPN | 5/15 8:30 p.m ET |
| Game 3 | BOS at CLE | ESPN | 5/19 8:30 p.m ET |
| Game 4 | BOS at CLE | ESPN | 5/21 8:30 p.m ET |
| Game 5 | CLE at BOS | ESPN | 5/23 8:30 p.m ET* |
| Game 6 | BOS at CLE | ESPN | 5/25 8:30 p.m ET* |
| Game 7 | CLE at BOS | ESPN | 5/27 8:30 p.m ET* |
*if necessary