The Boston Celtics sank 16 three-pointers, keeping their hopes alive in the NBA championship race In a commanding 110-97 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday.
For the second consecutive game, the Celtics staved off elimination, narrowing the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals to 3-2 with a wire-to-wire triumph.
Miami will have another opportunity to seal the series as they host Game 6 on Saturday. The Celtics, on the other hand, aim to take a step closer to becoming the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win a best-of-seven playoff series.
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown expressed confidence, stating, “The only thing that can stop us is us” in an on-court interview.
Playing in front of an ecstatic crowd at TD Garden in Boston, the Celtics displayed the dominance they were expected to exhibit at the start of the series.
The upstart eighth-seeded Heat had initially grabbed the first two games in Boston and embarrassed the second-seeded Celtics in Game 3.
Four Celtics starters scored over 20 points, led by Derrick White with 24, who converted six of his eight attempts from beyond the arc.
“I got some good looks and was able to knock them down, and just kind of rolled with it,” said White, who benefited from the Heat’s defensive focus on Brown and star wing Jayson Tatum, providing him more room to operate.
Marcus Smart contributed 23 points and five steals, while Brown and Tatum each added 21 points. Additionally, the energetic Celtics forced the Heat into 16 turnovers, resulting in 27 points for Boston. They also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, outscoring Miami 17-7 in that category.
“We set the tone from start to finish,” Brown emphasized, highlighting the Celtics’ tenacious play on both ends of the court.
Boston established a firm grip on the game right from the opening tip-off, surging to a 23-7 lead within minutes. After Tatum received a technical foul early in the first quarter, the Celtics responded with three consecutive three-pointers. Tatum contributed 12 points in the first quarter, while Brown took charge with 12 points in the second.
In contrast, Heat star Jimmy Butler struggled to find his rhythm, scoring only eight points in the first half and finishing with 14, his lowest-scoring game of the playoffs. He spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench.
Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points off the bench, while Bam Adebayo scored 16 points but committed six turnovers. Kyle Lowry, starting at point guard due to Gabe Vincent’s sprained ankle, contributed five points but also had four turnovers.
Butler acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “We’ve just got to play better. Start the game off better, challenge the starters, and make it more difficult for them.” He remained optimistic about the series, confident that the Heat can still secure victory at home.
Despite suffering two heavy defeats, the Heat, who previously won NBA titles in 2006, 2012, and 2013, only require one more win to reach the NBA Finals for the seventh time.
The Celtics, who share the record for the most NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers (17), last won the championship in 2008 but fell short in last season’s finals against the Golden State Warriors.
The winners of this series will face the Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in four games to reach their first-ever NBA Finals.
Anticipating a formidable challenge in Miami, Derrick White acknowledged the tough battle ahead. “The crowd is going to be in it. It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “It
