The Boston Celtics are just one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 96-89, on Wednesday night.

Cleveland led for a majority of the first half, even securing a double-digit lead at one point, but Boston chipped away and entered halftime down just three and with all the momentum.

The Celtics outscored the Cavaliers 29-17 in the third, to take a nine-point edge into the final twelve minutes of action.

Cleveland crawled to within four late in the fourth, but the game slipped away from the Cavaliers as the Celtics made their free throws down the stretch.

Kevin Garnett posted 26 points and 17 rebounds and Paul Pierce added 26 points and 7 boards for the Celtics, who shot 48% from the floor and outrebounded Cleveland by eight.

Rajon Rondo also added 20 points and 12 assists in the win, as the Celtics held serve at home (a growing trend in the second round of the playoffs).

LeBron James broke out of his scoring "slump" to record 35 points, but his teammates weren't as sharp as they were in Cleveland and LBJ didn't fill the stat sheet.

He had just five assists and two rebounds, after averaging close to a triple-double through the first four games of the series.

Delonte West had 19 points and Wally Szczerbiak added 10 in the loss, but no other players reached double-digits for Cleveland.

Ray Allen shot 4-for-11 from the floor, but notched 11 points nonetheless.

The Cavaliers attempted eighteen more free throws than the Celtics, but shot just 68.3% from the stripe.

Game Six will be Saturday night in Cleveland as the Cavaliers look to force a Game Seven back in Boston.