Celtics Blast Heat Again, Force Game 6 in Miami
The Boston Celtics avoided a sweep in Game 4 to force a Game 5 and the Celtics came out on fire. The Celtics won 110-97 avoiding elimination again and forcing a Game 6 back in Miami.
Derrick White led the way for the Celtics with 24 points including six three-pointers. Marcus Smart had 23 points and five steals. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both score 21 points apiece to cut Miami’s lead down to 3-2.
Boston keeps their hopes alive to become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit. Teams in that position are 0-150 all-time.
After last night’s Game 5 result, I THINK…..
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 26, 2023
A.) The Heat win in 6
B.)The Heat win in 7
C.) The Celtics win in 7
D.) (HEY, you guys should mention the Stars avoided getting swept by the Golden Knights)! – talk some %#@#$^ET HOCKEY
Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points. Bam Adebayo had 16 points and eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, he sat out the last 9:47 of the game. Caleb Martin added in 14 points.
This was Jimmy’s lowest scoring game of the playoffs; he had 16 points in their blowout win in Game 3. Miami never led and had 16 turnovers.
Boston came in the game with a 4-5 home record in the playoffs. The crowd came in rowdy and gave the Celtics the energy they needed.
The Celtics outhustled the Heat all game long, diving for loose balls, they fought down low for rebounds and found each other in transition for dunks and layups. In the first half they were up by as much as 20.
From the beginning the Celtics set the tone. Smart stripped the ball from Adebayo starting a fast break and ended with a Tatum layup.
With the game tied at 4, Tatum got free path down the lane for a dunk, but he got a technical foul for hanging on the rim too long.
The Celtics momentum kept going and had a lead in the first quarter that grew as high as 23-7. Celtics ended the quarter with a 35-20 lead, White hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.
The Heat were without Gabe Vincent because of an ankle sprain he got in Game 4. Kyle Lowry started in his spot it was his first start since Feb. 2. Lowry played 31 minutes but had five points and four turnovers.
Vincent is the Heat’s third leading scorer and ball handler, and the Heat missed him dearly. Miami struggled on the on the offensive end they turned the ball over 10 times leading to Boston’s 17 points off turnovers.
The series shifts back to Miami for Game 6 Saturday night.
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