ORINDA – When parents confer with their teens about Internet safety and the hazards of online encounters with strangers, the topic of bondage and tickling probably doesn't come up.

But that's exactly what happened to a handful of teenagers in downtown Contra Costa, based on authorities.

Police in Moraga and Orinda are investigating a tip that at the very least a half-dozen boys were contacted via social media by a mysterious tickler with a proposal. People who met him described him as a polite and “businesslike” middle-aged man who offered the boys $600 to be tied up, tickled and filmed at a predetermined, discreet location, authorities said.

Some of the boys gave in. And the videos soon began circulating on social media, police said.

At least 4 boys from a Lamorinda-area highschool reportedly arranged to satisfy the person at an Alameda County hotel. When they entered the room, he was already waiting for them with cameras. They chatted briefly, then the boys were tied hand and foot, separately, and tickled on a bed for 30 to 45 seconds. The boys were fully clothed and the person stopped occasionally to ask if every thing was OK and allowed them breaks between tickling sessions, authorities said.

The man allegedly told the kids the videos were for his “personal collection” after which paid the boys in money. This meeting took place last yr, police said.

Police became aware of the disturbing encounter last month when the person allegedly made contact with two other teenagers within the Lamorinda area.

This time, the person said he desired to pay $600 to boys willing to undergo the identical treatment and $100 for referrals to other boys. He added that he hoped to seek out subjects who were “very ticklish,” authorities said. The offer was accompanied by a video of teenagers being tickled, and the videos reportedly began circulating soon after at Miramonte High School in Orinda and Campolindo High School in Moraga.

Police have launched an investigation. While California's penal code doesn’t specifically prohibit tickling teenagers, if the tickling or filming was done for sexual reasons, it could violate various federal and state laws. So far, police haven’t announced any arrests or said whether or not they have identified the tickler.

Celts

BOSTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points, Evan Mobley had 21 points and 10 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the top-seeded Boston Celtics 118-94 on Thursday night to even their second-round playoff series at one game apiece.

Two nights after losing by 25 points and Mitchell scoring 33 points but receiving little support, the Cavaliers took the lead within the third quarter and responded with a blowout of their very own. Mitchell scored 16 points within the third period and hit three straight baskets early within the fourth, including a 28-foot 3-pointer that caused him to shrug as he backed up on defense.

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points for Boston and Jaylen Brown added 19 points. But Derrick White, whose 25 points in Game 1 helped the Celtics to a 120-95 win, managed just 10 points and missed seven of his eight 3-point attempts.

The series moves to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday, with a return trip to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Caris LeVert scored 21 points for Cleveland off the bench, hitting a pull-up jumper midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Cavaliers a 20-point lead and sparked a fan parade for the exits. Many of those that remained began to boo.

A minute later, after the Celtics missed one other 3-pointer – they were 8 for 35 from distance overall – LeVert made a layup, drawing a flagrant foul from Tatum. It was a 25-point game and Boston coach Joe Mazzulla cleared his bench.

Cleveland's JB Bickerstaff followed shortly after, giving some rest to Mitchell, who played a game-high 37 minutes on Tuesday night but was benched through the Celtics' 10-2 run early within the fourth period that opened the sport.

Mitchell made 4 of his five 3-point attempts within the third quarter, helping Cleveland extend its result in as many as 14 points.

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis missed his third straight game with a calf strain. Mobley began at center instead of Jarrett Allen, who missed five straight games with bruised ribs and was a high-scoring player within the playoffs.

Mobley scored 11 points in the primary quarter because the Cavaliers quickly fell behind by nine points – creating the looks of a second straight blowout. But Cleveland dropped 11 straight points — eight from LeVert. Boston took a lead by eight within the second period before the Cavs entered halftime tied.

Tatum had 16 points, six rebounds and 4 assists at halftime and Mobley had 15, seven and five.