Boston (AP) — Derek White had 24 points, including six three-pointers, and Boston Celtics Take over Miami heat 110-97 Thursday night in Game 5 to extend the Eastern Conference Finals.
Marcus Smart scored 23 points and five shots. Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown finished with 21 points each as the Celtics clinched their second straight win and cut Miami’s lead to 3-2.
It keeps Boston alive hopes of becoming the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series. Teams previously in this position are 0-150 all time.
Game six is on Saturday in Miami.
A day after the Florida Panthers won the franchise’s first ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1996, for the second straight game, the Heat were denied a spot in the NBA Finals.
Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points. Bam Adebayo added 16 points and eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler scored 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, but was knocked out at 9:47 into the game. Caleb Martin finished with 14 points.
This was the game in which Butler scored the fewest goals in the playoffs. He had 16 points in the third game, a huge win over Miami.
Miami never drove and had 16 turnovers.
Boston just went 4-5 today at TD Garden this postseason. But with a boisterous home crowd behind them, the Celtics thrived on their energy.
They dove for loose balls, beat Miami for rebounds, and found each other for shooting and dunking in transition as they built as many as 20 points in the first half.
The Heat cut it, but Boston still trailed 3 seconds and grew their lead to 96-72 in the fourth quarter.
Boston fans reignited to “Beat the Heat!” A chant that hasn’t been prevalent since the first game.
Heat starting Kyle Lowry at guard after Gabe Vincent was ruled out with a left ankle injury earlier in the day. It was Lowry’s first start since February 2.
Vincent, the Heat’s third leading scorer this postseason, was injured late in Miami’s Game 4 loss when he fell awkwardly while trying to save a loose ball near the Heat’s bench.
He missed his presence as Miami struggled early on the offensive end, overwhelmed by a Celtics defense that forced the Heat to 10 first-half turnovers that led to Boston’s 17 points. Lowry played 31 minutes, scored five points, and finished with four turnovers.