The Boston Celtics’ season didn’t end in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Finals clash with the Miami Heat, and now there’s a glimmer of hope. Whether Boston’s 116-99 win on Tuesday night was the start of a miraculous revival or just a momentary reprieve from what NBA history suggests is still unavoidable yet to be determined. If nothing else, the Celtics’ victory made their chances of becoming the NBA’s first team in 151 attempts to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series go from insurmountable to uncertain heading into Game 5. at the TD Garden on Wednesday. That’s good for a team that has spent most of this series looking nothing like the one that earned the conference the second seed. another. That’s all that matters,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. “We take one game at a time. We understand the odds are against us, but we’re a team that believes in us no matter what, and we just have to keep going, and all that matters is the next game. one of the league’s most scoring and defensive teams during the regular season was gutted in three straight losses to Miami to open the series. The Heat have confused Boston in those games. It took away top scoring threats Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, while passing a Celtics side that usually demolished opponents at the 3-point line. the third trimester. Led by Tatum’s 33 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, the Celtics outscored the Heat by 30 points from beyond the arc and turned Miami’s 16 turnovers into 27 points. It also gave the Celtics a plan for the future. long, difficult battle ahead,” Tatum said. While the win gave the Celtics some life, the Heat can blame themselves for not finishing. The game was close for three quarters and Miami only needs to win one of the last three games to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since its 2020 run in the Florida bubble. Denver is waiting to play the winner after sweeping the Lakers. Boston won three times at the Heat last year in the Eastern Finals. With a win on Thursday, Miami would accomplish the same feat on Boston soil this year. The Celtics are 4-5 at home in the playoffs. No. On the contrary, it will create momentum for us knowing that we have to play with a lot more energy,” Butler said. “We have to play as if our backs are against the wall. But I think all year we’ve been better when we had to do it the hard way. the series and had 17 points in Game 4, left the game in the fourth quarter after twisting his left ankle. Kyle Lowry also took an awkward fall, leaving the state of Miami’s point guards up in the air. they’re like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ So we’ll see,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Game 4.
The Boston Celtics’ season didn’t end in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Finals clash with the Miami Heat, and now there’s a glimmer of hope.
Whether Boston’s 116-99 win on Tuesday night is the start of a miraculous revival or just a momentary reprieve from what NBA history suggests is still inevitable is yet to be determined.
If nothing else, the Celtics’ victory made their chances of becoming the NBA’s first team in 151 attempts to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series go from insurmountable to uncertain heading into Game 5. at the TD Garden on Wednesday. .
That’s good for a team that has spent most of this series looking nothing like the one that earned the conference’s second seed.
“We just have to go win another one. That’s all that matters,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. “We take one game at a time. We understand the odds are against us, but we’re a team that believes in us no matter what, and we just have to keep going, and all that matters is the next game.
Much of what made the Celtics one of the most scoring and defensive teams in the league during the regular season was gutted in three straight losses to Miami to open the series.
The Heat confused Boston in those games. He took down top scoring threats Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, while passing a Celtics team that usually demolished opponents at the 3-point line.
Boston showed insight at both ends of Game 4, rallying on a game-changing 18-0 run in the third quarter. Led by Tatum’s 33 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, the Celtics edged the Heat 30 points from beyond the arc and turned Miami’s 16 turnovers into 27 points.
It also gave the Celtics a plan for the future.
“We still have a long, uphill battle ahead,” Tatum said.
While the win gave the Celtics some life, the Heat can blame themselves for not finishing. The game was close for three quarters and Miami only needs to win one of the last three games to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since its 2020 run in the Florida bubble. Denver is waiting to play the winner after sweeping the Lakers.
Boston won three times at the Heat last year in the Eastern Finals. With a win on Thursday, Miami would accomplish the same feat on Boston soil this year.
The Celtics are 4-5 at home in the playoffs.
Heat star Jimmy Butler said he’s not worried about Boston’s first win, which will give him momentum heading home.
“No. On the contrary, it will create momentum for us knowing that we have to play with a lot more energy,” Butler said. “We have to play like our backs are against the wall. But I think throughout of the year, we were better when we had to do things the hard way.
Injury Monitoring
The Heat are gearing up for Game 5 with two key players on the mend.
Gabe Vincent, who was a spark plug throughout the series and had 17 points in Game 4, left the game in the fourth quarter after twisting his left ankle.
Kyle Lowry also took an awkward fall, leaving the state of Miami’s point guards up in the air.
“Every time you ask these guys, they’re like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ So we’ll see,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Game 4.
