Boston Celtics beat Miami Heat/AFP
The Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat 110-97 in the final series of the NBA’s Eastern Conference, taking another step closer to the top spot (3-2).
Four Celtics players had double-digit markers to add more heat to Caps, who started as favorites.
With this win, the Celtics avoided a two-game losing streak, and the best-of-seven series returns to Miami with a Heat advantage (3-2) that could end the Heat if they win their next challenge on Saturday. There is series.
The second-seeded Celtics avoided a sweep following their last game. The Heat entered the playoffs as the 8th seed.
The Celtics trailed 3-0 and came close to a feat with no team better in the playoffs.
TD Garden has been unfavorable to its home tenants in the postseason, losing five of its last eight games in Boston, while the Heat won all six playoff games at home until the first drop on Tuesday.Miami
The Heat were denied a chance to secure a ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in four seasons in Game 2.
But they still have a chance to join the 1998-99 New York Knicks as the league’s only eighth-seeded team to reach the NBA Finals.
The Miami Quintet are just one win away from reaching the finals for the fourth time in history, after 2006, 2012 and 2013, and the seventh.
The final game of those finals was lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 playoffs played behind closed doors at Disney World, Florida, due to the pandemic.
The Celtics led 61-44 at halftime thanks to 15 points from forward Jaylen Brown.
“We are the only ones who can stop us,” Brown said after the victory. “We were the toughest team tonight. We set the tone from start to finish.”
Still in time, the Celtics racked up success from the first quarter, hitting a barrage of 3-pointers to win 35-20 and not giving up until the end.
Every starter, except Al Horford, scored 21 or more points in confirmation of the clear turnaround, with Derrick White leading the pack with 24 points.
Celtics offensive leader Jayson Tatum (11 assists, 8 rebounds) contributed 21 points, Brown tied the tally, and Marcus Smart added 23 points.
The Celtics are still facing a wall as a Game 6 loss to the Heat on Saturday will determine their exit, but the quest for historic achievement is only halfway through.
In fact, there have been 150 occasions when a team that went 3-0 failed to win a series in seven games.
Miami star Jimmy Butler scored 14 points and center Bam Adebayo scored 16 as Miami was forced to miss Gabe Vincent (ankle sprain).
“I have to play better,” Butler said. “If you start the game better than the starters, it’s more difficult for them. They’re in the rhythm from the start.”
“We can and will win this series, so we’re going to stay positive. We just have to finish the game at home,” Butler added.
Source: Diario.Elmundo
