Celtics Thrive on 3s, Beat Heat 110-97 in Game 5 to Lengthen East Finals

BOSTON (AP) — Derrick White had 24 factors, together with six 3-pointers, and the Boston Celtics dominated the Miami Heat 110-97 on Thursday evening in Game 5 to increase the Eastern Conference finals.

Marcus Smart had 23 factors and 5 steals. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown completed with 21 factors apiece because the Celtics claimed their second straight win and trimmed Miami’s collection result in 3-2.

It retains alive Boston’s hopes of turning into the primary workforce in NBA historical past to beat a 3-0 deficit to win a collection. Teams beforehand in that place are 0-150 all-time.

Game 6 is Saturday in Miami.

A day after the Florida Panthers punched the franchise’s first ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1996, for the second straight sport the Heat had been denied a spot within the NBA Finals.

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Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 factors. Bam Adebayo added 16 factors and eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 14 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists however sat out the ultimate 9:47 of the sport. Caleb Martin completed with 14 factors.

It was Butler’s lowest-scoring sport of the playoffs. He had 16 factors in Game 3, a blowout win by Miami.

Miami by no means led and had 16 turnovers.

Boston entered the day simply 4-5 at TD Garden this postseason. But with a raucous dwelling crowd behind them, the Celtics thrived on their power.

They dove for free balls, outfought Miami for rebounds and located one another for layups and dunks in transition as they constructed as a lot as 20 factors within the first half.

The Heat minimize into it, however Boston saved flattening 3s and grew its edge as excessive as 96-72 within the fourth quarter.

Boston’s followers reignited a “Beat the Heat!” chant that hadn’t been prevalent since Game 1.

The Heat began Kyle Lowry at level guard after Gabe Vincent was dominated out with a sprained left ankle earlier within the day. It was Lowry’s first begin since Feb. 2.

Vincent, the Heat’s third-leading scorer this postseason, received damage late in Miami’s Game 4 loss when he landed awkwardly whereas making an attempt to avoid wasting a free ball close to the Heat bench.

His presence was missed as Miami struggled early on the offensive finish, swarmed by a Celtics’ protection that compelled the Heat into 10 first-half turnovers that led to 17 Boston factors. Lowry performed 31 minutes, scored 5 factors and completed with 4 turnovers.

Heat: Were outscored 13-0 in second-half factors within the opening 24 minutes.

Celtics: Al Horford added six factors and 11 rebounds. … The Celtics took a 61-44 edge into halftime. … Boston’s first turnover of the sport didn’t come till the 8:16 mark of the second quarter.

The Celtics received the quick begin that they had hoped for in entrance of their dwelling crowd.

Smart stripped Adebayo on Miami’s opening possession, igniting a quick break and layup on the opposite finish by Tatum.

Then, with the sport tied at 4, Tatum received free within the lane for a monstrous two-handed dunk. He held on the rim afterward and continued his celebration when he landed, resulting in a technical foul.

It didn’t cease the Celtics’ momentum, as their first-quarter lead grew as excessive as 23-7. Boston ended the interval with a 35-20 lead, punctuated by a 3-pointer by White on the buzzer.

Tatum had 12 factors within the opening 12 minutes, with the Celtics outscoring the Heat 21-6 from past the arc. Boston hit 7 of its 12 makes an attempt.

Celtics Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, NCAA president Charlie Baker and New England Patriots Matt Slater and Devin McCourty had been amongst a number of celebrities within the Garden.

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