Veterans Dave Cowens, John Havlicek and Jo Jo White scored 13 of Boston's 15 points in the last five minutes last night to lift the Celtics to a 100-97 victory over the Buffalo Braves and take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven National Basketball Association playoff series.

The Celtics held the 'Braves' Bob McAdoo to 16 points, eight of them in the last quarter, and limited Ernie DiGregorio, who collected his fourth personal foul in the second period, to only 10 points.

The Braves led, 89-85 with 5 minutes remaining but from there the Celtics' veteran trio took charge.

Ragged First Half

Both teams staggered through a ragged first half, turning the ball over 24 times without a shot at the basket.

Buffalo managed an eight-point lead, the biggest of the game, late in the first period as Randy Smith scored eight points. But the Celtics trimmed it to three points, 51-48, at the half.

Havlicek's seven points and a basket by Paul Silas in the last minute pulled the Celtics to a 71-71 tie at the end of a third period that saw 17 more turnovers by the two clubs.

Havlicek had 25 points, White, 20, and Cowens, 19, for Boston. Randy Smith tallied 25 points and Jim McMillan had 18 for the Braves.

The Celtics now need only one game to knock Buffalo out of the playoffs. The teams meet again in Buffalo on Friday.