After dominating the second half of Game 4, the Celtics continued their momentum to continue their run for the miracle in this Eastern Conference final. Thanks to four straight 3-pointers, Boston beat Miami 14-0 to take a 15-point lead after just seven minutes of play. Thanks to the Tatum–White duo, they finished the first quarter with the same advantage (35-20).
In a private formation of Gave Vincent, Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin stopped the bleeding but the lost balls and repeated offensive rebounds weighed down the Heat. They had a nightmarish half with 10 lost balls, 8 conceded offensive rebounds, and the Celtics at 11/25 from 3-pointers, to finish at -20 (61-41).
The Boston festival continued after the break. Joe Mazzulla’s men had a lead of up to 24 points before finishing in freewheel. They will return to Miami with the wind in their sails and nothing to lose to force a Game 7!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Miami throws oil on the fire. Faced with a back-to-the-wall Celtics who started the game with energy and intensity, the Heat did everything to help them get away. Miami had 6 loose balls after a quarter, and that’s what allowed Boston to up the tempo of the game. In rhythm, they signed a 3-point festival with a 7/12 during the first twelve minutes. Miami’s problems continued throughout the first half. Their 10 lost balls and 8 conceded offensive rebounds gave Boston 30 points!
— The Celtics have regained their identity. Third-best defense and 4th-best offense in the league this season, it took three and a half games for Boston to regain the level of play that has been theirs all season. As in Game 4, it all started with the defense for Joe Mazzulla’s men. Destroyed on the “switches” in the first three games, the Celtics this time extinguished the game and the movement of their opponents, intercepting 14 balls and limiting Miami to one shot per possession. This defensive intensity allowed them to play against a defense that was less in place. Jayson Tatum’s drives served as a detonator and behind him Boston was selfless to bring the ball to life and find open shots (16/39 from 3-pointers). Miami was a time or two behind the entire game.
— From 151 to 15. In the history of the NBA playoffs, 151 teams have been trailing 3-0 and only 14 have gone for a Game 6. Tonight, Boston became the fifteenth team in history to stay alive after going to 24 minutes. to be swept away. Of the 14 teams that forced a Game 6, only three managed to equalize to force a Game 7. And none of these three teams won this decisive match. Boston therefore continues its quest for history. If they have the wind in their sails, we can expect a whole other effort from Miami on its floor on Saturday.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jayson Tatum. The Celtics star set the tone early in the game, scoring 12 of his 21 points in the first quarter. He showed patience in the face of two opponents and was able to deliver 11 assists. He also grabbed 8 rebounds.
✅ Marcus Smart. The Boston point guard put his mark on the game on defense, with a playoff personal best five steals to go with his 23 points and 4/6 from 3-point range.
✅ Derrick White – Jaylen Brown. Like Tatum, White started the game on fire with a 3/3 from wide in the first quarter. The Celtics’ Swiss army knife kept his hand warm throughout the game, finishing with 24 points at 6/8 from 3-point range. Struggling in the first four games, Brown found his address tonight to finish with 21 points from 50% on shots and 3/5 from 3-pointers.
✅ Duncan Robinson. The Heat shooter was one of the only bright spots for Eric Spoelstra. He scored 10 of his 18 points in the second half to try and wake up his teammates. He also delivered 9 assists.
⛔ Bam Adebayo – Jimmy Butler. The two Heat stars were transparent in the first half before timidly getting their heads out of the water in the third quarter. Butler finished with 14 points, and only 10 shots attempted, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Adebayo scored 16 points but lost 6 fly balls. Miami will need their two leaders to be much more aggressive in Game 6.
⛔ Kyle Lowry. Holder in the absence of Gabe Vincent, injured in the ankle, the veteran was catastrophic, scoring barely more points (5) than he lost balloons (4).
THE FOLLOWING
Game 6 in Miami on the night of Saturday to Sunday (02:30).
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
