The Boston Celtics used a 24-2 run that started late in the third quarter and lasted into the fourth on Wednesday night, going on to defeat the Miami Heat 93-80 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. Boston now leads the best of seven series 3-2.
It was a much different game than the first four of the series, as good defense from both teams dominated for a good part of the 48 minutes. Boston had starting point guard Marcus Smart back after he missed Game 4, and Robert Williams III also played for a second straight game. After only four lead changes total coming into Game 5, there were four lead changes in this one on the night. Boston jumped out early to a 7-2 lead, before Miami took their first lead 15-14 on a reverse layup by Victor Oladipo with 2:59 left in the first quarter and didn’t trail again for the remainder of the first half. The Heat led by as many as seven in the second, taking a 42-37 advantage to the halftime break. Jayson Tatum, who at times seemed to be favoring his right shoulder that he injured in a Game 3 loss, shot just 1-9 from the floor in the opening 24 minutes.
Boston started the third quarter on an 8-0 run on baskets by Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, Tatum, and Grant Williams to take the lead back 45-42. Miami had their final lead of the night 46-45 on a pair of Max Strus free throws with 8:45 left in the period. With the Celtics leading 59-58 with 2:44 left, the guests made their run to put the game away. A 10-0 spurt made it an 69-58 heading to the fourth quarter, and then they would score 14 of the first 16 points of the final 12 minutes (24-2 run) going up 83-60 on a Jaylen Brown long 30 foot three-pointer with 8:21 to play. Gabe Vincent did cut it 89-76 with a three-pointer for the Heat with still 4:18 remaining, but it wasn’t meant to be as Miami would shoot just 32% from the floor and a dismal 16% from three-point range (7-45). The starting backcourt for Miami, Strus and Kyle Lowry, have combined to shoot 1-28 in the last two games.
Brown was the high scorer in the game in the Boston win with 25 points and four rebounds. Tatum after a rough start came one assist away from a triple double, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. Horford made his presence felt once again putting in 16 points with seven rebounds, five assists, a steal, and two blocked shots. Derrick White also stepped up huge with an extended role with 14 points, five assists, and two steals. Williams III only scored six points, but had 10 rebounds and three blocks and was a presence in the paint. Smart in 23 minutes ended up with five points, while also contributing five rebounds and dishing out four assists. Bam Adebayo led Miami with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Vincent had 15 points, Jimmy Butler 13, and Duncan Robinson 11. Butler shot just 4-18 from the field, and the Heat as a team shot 30-94 in their second home loss of the ECF after going unbeaten at FTX Arena in their first two playoff series. They also played without Tyler Herro for a second straight game, who is still suffering from a groin injury. Game 6 at TD Garden in Boston will begin shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Friday night, as the Celtics will try to reach their 22nd NBA Finals in franchise history and first since 2010.
