Marcus Morris Sr. praised Celtics following Cavaliers playoff elimination

Morning Sports Update

“I think they’re definitely suited to make a good run.”

Marcus Morris Sr. reacts to Celtics’ advancing to Eastern Conference finals: An expected thorn in the Celtics’ side during what was ultimately a Game 5 (and series-clinching) victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night was a name Boston fans undoubtedly remember.

Marcus Morris Sr., who played for the Celtics from 2017-2019, had his most prolific playoff performance since 2021 to help the injury-riddled Cavaliers. Morris finished the night with 25 points on the strength of 10 for 13 shooting (including going 5 for 6 from 3-point range).

Of course, it wasn’t enough to stave off Cleveland’s elimination from the postseason, as Boston’s combined team effort overwhelmed Morris and the Cavaliers.

Despite the loss, the former Celtic had nothing but praise for his ex-team in his postgame comments.

“A couple years back, being a part of this team, with a lot of the guys that are still here now, they got some great players,” Morris told reporters, via Souichi Terada of MassLive. “They’ve got some dawgs. I think they’re definitely suited to make a good run. They get the big fella [Kristaps Porzingis] back, I think they’ll be a problem.”

Morris was a part of the Celtics team that made a run to the conference finals in 2018, falling (coincidentally) to the Cavaliers in seven games.

Assessing the current state of the Celtics, Morris likes what he sees from Jayson Tatum.

“I think it’s just more than this year,” Morris said of Tatum’s continued development, per NESN’s Greg Dudek. “He’s been super aggressive. He’s being a leader. It’s just good to watch him grow. Just having a relationship with him when he came in as a rookie and just seeing how quickly things change.”

Trivia: The Celtics have now reached the Eastern Conference finals three years in a row. It’s the team’s longest such streak since doing so five consecutive times between 1984 and 1988. Can you name the Celtics’ opponents during that streak in the 1980s?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: They played three teams in five years. Boston faced teams coached by Don Nelson and Chuck Daly twice each. The third team featured Charles Barkley during his rookie season.

Scores and schedules:

The Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a 113-98 win over the Cavaliers in Game 5 of the second-round series on Wednesday. Jayson Tatum paced Boston with 25 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals. Al Horford also had a big night, with 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Boston now awaits the winner of the Knicks-Pacers series (with New York up 3-2). Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals will be either on Sunday or Tuesday depending on the outcomes of games in the next two days.

The Red Sox lost to the Rays 4-3 on Wednesday. The two teams play again tonight at Fenway Park at 7:10 p.m.

Tomorrow, the Bruins will be back at TD Garden for a pivotal Game 6 in the second-round series against the Panthers. Boston trails Florida in the series 3-2, and faces elimination with a defeat.

And PWHL Boston await the winner of Friday’s matchup between Toronto and Minnesota to decide which team will be the opponent in the finals.

More from Boston.com:

Al Horford’s night: On top of breaking out of his shooting slump from earlier in the series, and contributing …

Raccoon on the pitch! During a Wednesday night MLS matchup between the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC, the game had to be paused for a fairly lengthy period of time in the first half when a raccoon got onto the field.

This inevitably led to some comedic scenes (and social media posts) before the agile Philadelphian was apprehended.

And an update: The raccoon was safely released, according to the Union.

On this day: In 1954, Ted Williams—playing with a stainless steel pin in his shoulder after he broke his collarbone in early April—went 8 for 9 in a doubleheader against the Tigers. He finished with two home runs, a double, and five singles, totaling seven RBIs.

Yet it wasn’t enough to save the struggling Red Sox, who dropped both games against Detroit.

Daily highlight: After putting four past the Revolution in a win over the weekend, the New York Red Bulls did it again on Wednesday in a 4-1 over D.C. United. The highlight of the night came from Brazilian striker Elias Manoel, who chipped United’s keeper from outside the box.

Trivia answer: Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons

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