BOSTON (AP) — Derrick White had 24 factors, together with six 3-pointers, and the Boston Celtics dominated the Miami Heat 110-97 on Thursday evening in Game 5 to increase the Eastern Conference finals.
Marcus Smart had 23 factors and 5 steals. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown completed with 21 factors apiece because the Celtics claimed their second straight win and trimmed Miami’s collection result in 3-2.
It retains alive Boston’s hopes of changing into the primary staff in NBA historical past to beat a 3-0 deficit to win a collection. Teams beforehand in that place are 0-150 all-time.
Game 6 is Saturday in Miami.
A day after the Florida Panthers punched the franchise’s first ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1996, for the second straight recreation the Heat had been denied a spot within the NBA Finals.
Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 factors. Bam Adebayo added 16 factors and eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 14 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists however sat out the ultimate 9:47 of the sport. Caleb Martin completed with 14 factors.
It was Butler’s lowest-scoring recreation of the playoffs. He had 16 factors in Game 3, a blowout win by Miami.
Miami by no means led and had 16 turnovers.
Boston entered the day simply 4-5 at TD Garden this postseason. But with a raucous residence crowd behind them, the Celtics thrived on their vitality.
They dove for free balls, outfought Miami for rebounds and located one another for layups and dunks in transition as they constructed as a lot as 20 factors within the first half.
The Heat lower into it, however Boston saved pulling down 3s and grew its edge as excessive as 96-72 within the fourth quarter.
Boston’s followers reignited a “Beat the Heat!” chant that hadn’t been prevalent since Game 1.
The Heat began Kyle Lowry at level guard after Gabe Vincent was dominated out with a sprained left ankle earlier within the day. It was Lowry’s first begin since Feb. 2.
Vincent, the Heat’s third-leading scorer this postseason, obtained damage late in Miami’s Game 4 loss when he landed awkwardly whereas attempting to save lots of a free ball close to the Heat bench.
His presence was missed as Miami struggled early on the offensive finish, swarmed by a Celtics’ protection that pressured the Heat into 10 first-half turnovers that led to 17 Boston factors. Lowry performed 31 minutes, scored 5 factors and completed with 4 turnovers.
Source: www.si.com
