NBA Playoffs 2018: Latest Bracket Scores and Conference Finals Schedule

The Boston Celtics continued their remarkable run through the NBA playoffs as they came back from four points down with a minute-and-a-half left to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-112 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Wednesday.

The C's were the last team to make the field and will now face the Cleveland Cavaliers in an Eastern Conference final rematch. Last year, the Cavs swept Boston, but both teams have gone through roster overhauls since then.

In the West final, a matchup many predicted would happen early in the season will come to fruition, as the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors face off. Golden State has made the last three NBA Finals, while Houston finished with the best regular-season record in the NBA at 65-17.

Here's a look at the conference semifinal series-clinching scores for each team, the NBA playoff bracket results so far, the upcoming conference final and NBA Finals schedules (via Sports Media Watch) and a look at what to watch for in the Celtics-Cavaliers tilt.

Series-Clinching Scores

Golden State Warriors 113, New Orleans Pelicans 104

Houston Rockets 112, Utah Jazz 102

Cleveland Cavaliers 128, Toronto Raptors 93

Boston Celtics 114, Philadelphia 76ers 112

NBA Playoff Bracket: Eastern Conference

1st Round

No. 1 Toronto Raptors 4, No. 8 Washington Wizards 2

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers 4, No. 5 Indiana Pacers 3

No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers 4, No. 6 Miami Heat 1

No. 2 Boston Celtics 4, No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks 3

2nd Round

Cleveland 4, Toronto 0

Boston 4, Philadelphia 1

Eastern Conference Finals TV Schedule (All Times ET)

Cleveland at Boston (Game 1): Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Cleveland at Boston (Game 2): Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Boston at Cleveland (Game 3): Saturday, May 19 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Boston at Cleveland (Game 4): Monday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Cleveland at Boston (Game 5, if necessary): Wednesday, May 23 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Boston at Cleveland (Game 6, if necessary): Friday, May 25 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Cleveland at Boston (Game 7, if necessary): Sunday, May 27 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

NBA Playoff Bracket: Western Conference

1st Round

No. 1 Houston Rockets 4, No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves 1

No. 5 Utah Jazz 4, No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder 2

No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans 4, No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers 0

No. 2 Golden State Warriors 4, No. 7 San Antonio Spurs 1

2nd Round

Golden State 4, New Orleans 1

Houston 4, Utah 1

Western Conference Finals TV Schedule (All Times ET)

Golden State at Houston (Game 1): Monday at 9 p.m. on TNT

Golden State at Houston (Game 2): Wednesday at 9 p.m. on TNT

Houston at Golden State (Game 3): Sunday, May 20 at 8 p.m. on TNT

Houston at Golden State (Game 4): Tuesday, May 22 at 9 p.m. on TNT

Golden State at Houston (Game 5, if necessary): Thursday, May 24 at 9 p.m. on TNT

Houston at Golden State (Game 6, if necessary): Saturday, May 26 at 9 p.m. on TNT

Golden State at Houston (Game 7, if necessary): Monday, May 28 at 9 p.m. on TNT

NBA Finals Schedule (All Times ET)

The winner of the Western Conference finals will have home-court advantage in the NBA finals, as the Rockets and Warriors have the best two regular-season records of the teams remaining.

East winner at West winner (Game 1): Thursday, May 31 at 9 p.m. on ABC

East winner at West winner (Game 2): Sunday, June 3 at 8 p.m. on ABC

West winner at East winner (Game 3): Wednesday, June 6 at 9 p.m. on ABC

West winner at East winner (Game 4): Friday, June 8 at 9 p.m. on ABC

East winner at West winner (Game 5, if necessary): Monday, June 11 at 9 p.m. on ABC

West winner at East winner (Game 6, if necessary): Thursday, June 14 at 9 p.m. on ABC

East winner at West winner (Game 7, if necessary): Sunday, June 17 at 8 p.m. on ABC

What To Watch: Conference Finals

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Ascendance

At 20 and 21 years old, respectively, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have become the go-to players on the Celtics in the latter portion of the season after Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending knee injury.

They've responded well, with each player having fantastic games during this year's playoffs. Tatum and Brown combined for 49 points in Game 5 against Philadelphia, with the former player hitting the game-winning layup and the latter making 10 of his 13 shots.

Tatum averaged 23.6 points per game on 52.6 percent shooting against the 76ers, who finished third in defensive efficiency this year. Brown has gone off a few times this postseason, posting 32- and 34-point games against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

The storyline of the remainder of the playoffs may be how far these two players can help take the C's. It helps that Brown's minutes restriction following a hamstring injury suffered in Game 7 of the first round could be lifted going into Sunday's matchup with Cleveland. The guard would have four full days of rest between games, which would certainly help.

The Celtics Rotation

The news is not good for Celtics backup guard Shane Larkin, who suffered a sprained shoulder in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Per Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, the former University of Miami star is out "for the foreseeable future."

With Larkin's injury, the C's operated with a short bench for Game 5, as just seven players were on the court for more than eight minutes. In fact, only eight players saw the court total: Forward Semi Ojeleye was in for an eight-minute stretch in the first half and did not return after halftime.

It will be interesting to see how Stevens decides to use his bench moving forward. Will he trust another Celtics guard to provide some minutes to give the guard trio of Brown, Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier some more rest, or will he ride with those three through the playoffs?

The Resurgence of Kevin Love

The first eight games of the NBA playoffs and the last three have been night and day for Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love.

In seven games against the Indiana Pacers in the first round and Game 1 of the second round vs. the Toronto Raptors, Love posted 10.9 points per game on 31.9 percent shooting, well below his season averages of 17.6 points and 45.8 percent shooting.

However, Love was fantastic in Games 2 through 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, registering 25.0 points while making 54.2 percent of his field goals.

He hasn't fared well in two contests against the Boston Celtics this year, averaging just 8.5 points per game and making just five of his 20 shots, but can Love ride the momentum from the Raptors series into Boston?

LeBron James' Legendary Postseason

One could argue that LeBron James' "worst" game occurred in Game 6 of the first round against Indiana, when he posted 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

What's remarkable about James' postseason, however, is that those point, assist and rebound totals are his playoff lows this season. In 11 games against Indiana and Toronto, James has posted 34.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.

If James continues this run and leads the Cavs to the title, then his 2018 playoff performance might go down as the best individual run of any player in NBA history. Furthermore, James would make the "Greatest of All Time" debate between him and Michael Jordan more difficult to decipher with a fourth title.