Boston Celtics avoid elimination with 116-99 blowout vs. Miami Heat trailing Jayson Tatum’s 33 points, including 25 in the second half, forcing Game 5 at the TD Garden
- Playing for the desperate Celtics, Jayson Tatum scored 25 points in the second half
- The Heat were beaten badly from deep, surpassed by 33 points – shooting 25%
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The Boston Celtics came and came again. At the scene of his criminal performance just two days earlier, the road team produced a spirit hitherto unseen in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning 116-99.
Still alive in the East Finals, Boston faces another elimination match, this time at the less hostile TD Garden in Massachusetts.
Jayson Tatum turned in a superstar performance befitting his reputation, scoring 25 points in the second half to finish with 33 on the night. Tatum also had 11 rebounds and seven assists.
After falling behind at the half, Boston—behind Tatum’s brilliance—rallied to smash home court heat in the final quarters, beating Erik Spoelstra’s team 66-43. Crucially, Boston threw 38025 in the third to establish a healthy advantage.
In what is sure to be great news for the NBA and neutral viewers, there will be at least one more matchup for the best-of-seven series vs. Denver for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Jayson Tatum forced the Boston Celtics to a season-saving Game 4 win with 34 points
It’s overzealous to say the series’ skin tone has changed dramatically, but Tuesday’s redemptive performance in Miami could set off a season-changing turn of events.
The C’s had more to thank Tatum, despite his role as a catalyst for his season-saving performance.
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown both had 16 points, as the Boston bench stood upright; Grant Williams went 4-of-6 from deep for 14 points and Robert Williams III added seven.
For the downtrodden Heat, Jimmy Butler had 29 points in a poor night of shooting, going 9-for-21 from the field. He had nine rebounds and five assists.
Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin were subservient with 17 and 16 points respectively.
A 12-0 run by the Celtics in the fourth inning almost assured the win, before a triple by Kyle Lowry with less than six minutes left broke the streak — Miami’s first of the quarter, unbelievable. The Heat only scored 20 points in the last quarter.
Despite his sheer will to overcome Miami, Boston’s superiority from behind the arc proved crucial.
Joe Mazzulla’s team was +33 from deep in a game they won by 17. The Heat’s 25% 3-point shooting was nearly half the 48% of the series’ first three games.
While the series is still drastically in favor of the Florida franchise, Boston has a chance to force a Game 6 in Miami 3-2.
The Celtics superstar defeated Miami’s Jimmy Butler, who had 29 points on 9-of-21 FG