Boston Celtics avoid elimination with 116-99 win vs. Miami Heat to force Game 5 behind Jayson Tatum
The Boston Celtics came and came again. At the scene of its criminal performance just two days prior, the road team produced a spirit unseen thus far in the Eastern Conference Finals to win 116-99.
Boston are still alive in the East Finals and their reward for Tuesday's effort is yet another elimination game -- albeit at the less-hostile TD Garden in Massachusetts Thursday.
Jayson Tatum produced a superstar performance befitting of his reputation, pouring in 25 second-half points to finish with 33 on the night. Tatum also had 11 rebounds and seven assists.
After trailing at the half, Boston - behind Tatum's brilliance - rallied to destroy the homecourt Heat in the final quarters, outscoring Erik Spoelstra's team 66-43. Critically, Boston outscored Miami 38-25 in the third to establish a healthy advantage.
In what is sure to be great news for the NBA and neutral watchers, there will be at least one more matchup before the best-of-seven series vs. Denver for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, beginning June 1.
Jayson Tatum willed the Boston Celtics to a season-saving victory in Game 4 with 34 points
Marcus Smart had 11 points, three rebounds and six assists as the C's forced a Game 5 in BOS
It is overzealous to say the complexion of the series has drastically altered, but Tuesday's redemptive performance in Miami could set off a season-altering chain of events.
The C's had more than Tatum to thank despite his role as the catalyst for its season-saving performance in front of a slew of courtside stars.
'We didn't want [the first three games] to define our season,' Tatum said postgame. 'We still got a long uphill battle to go but tonight is a good start.'
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown both had 16 points, while the Boston bench stood up; Grant Williams went 4-of-6 from deep for 14 points and Robert Williams III added seven.
'We can't relax,' Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said following the win. 'We have to keep the same level of intensity, the same mindset, the same focus in the next game.'
For the stifled Heat, Jimmy Butler had 29 points despite a poor shooting night, going 9-for-21 from the field. He had nine rebounds and five assists.
Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin were serviceable, putting up 17 and 16 points respectively.
Jaylen brown and Tatum proved a deadly dup for Boston -- combining for 50 points in the win
A Celtics 12-0 run in the fourth virtually secured the win before a Kyle Lowry triple with less than six minutes to go broke the streak -- incredibly, Miami's first of the quarter. The Heat scored just 20 points in the final quarter.
Notwithstanding its sheer will to overcome Miami, Boston's superiority from behind the arc proved crucial. Mazzulla's team were +33 from deep in a game they won by 17. The Heat's 25% 3-point shooting was almost half its 48% from the first three games of the series.
Postgame, Butler dismissed the narrative that Boston could be significantly galvanized by the road win.
'If anything, it'll build momentum for us, knowing that we have to play with a lot more energy,' he said. 'We've gotta play like our backs are against the wall. I think all year long we've been better [prepared] to do things the hard way.'
While the series still drastically sits in favor of the Florida franchise, Boston has an opportunity to force a Game 6 in Miami, down 3-2. Like millions of Americans, the Celtics would love another trip to South Beach on company time.
'We want to come back to Miami,' Brown said. 'If that happens I feel like we're gonna feel good about ourselves.'
Charles Barkley certainly feels comfortable with that eventuating.
'I think Game 5 is going to be a cakewalk for the Celtics,' Barkley said postgame on TNT. 'I think they are going to have so much energy. Now, they are going back home and they are gonna be loud and incredible. I think they are gonna kill Miami next game.'
Celtics fans and the Association can only hope.
Source: Daily Mail
