Heat Topples Celtics in Game 4, 112-109
The Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics, 112-109, in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference finals playoff series in Orlando on Wednesday night. The Heat leads the series, 3-1.
The Heat (3-1) likely knew they'd get another wire-to-wire battle from the Celtics (1-3), which needed one more win to make up for their blown second-half leads in the first two games and make it a new series. However, Miami appeared ready to match Boston's intensity from the start, clawing their way to a one-point lead through the first 12 minutes and extending that advantage to six by halftime. True to form in this series, the game was naturally far from over at that point, as coach Brad Stevens' squad demonstrated by erasing all but one point from its deficit going into the fourth quarter. The Celtics even managed to take a brief 85-84 lead with 8:51 left, but the Heat fought back with plenty of help from rookie Tyler Herro's team rookie postseason record 37 points to forge what seemed like an insurmountable nine-point lead with 56.2 seconds left. A couple of official's reviews and clutch three-pointers by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown kept things interesting to the final second, when Jimmy Butler drained a free throw and Boston couldn't get a three-point shot up in time immediately thereafter.
Jayson Tatum overcame an abysmal first half to score all 28 of his team-leading points in the second half, a tally he complemented with nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal. Jaylen Brown supplied 21 points, nine boards, two assists, one steal and one block. Kemba Walker furnished 20 points, five assists and four rebounds. Gordon Hayward managed 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Marcus Smart provided a 10-point, 11-assist double-double that also included two rebounds and one block.
Herro also posted six rebounds and three assists. Jimmy Butler followed with 24 points, supplementing them with nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Goran Dragic registered 22 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Bam Adebayo generated a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included four assists and two steals.
The two teams meet again for a potential series-ending Game 5 on Friday night.
The Heat (3-1) likely knew they'd get another wire-to-wire battle from the Celtics (1-3), which needed one more win to make up for their blown second-half leads in the first two games and make it a new series. However, Miami appeared ready to match Boston's intensity from the start, clawing their way to a one-point lead through the first 12 minutes and extending that advantage to six by halftime. True to form in this series, the game was naturally far from over at that point, as coach Brad Stevens' squad demonstrated by erasing all but one point from its deficit going into the fourth quarter. The Celtics even managed to take a brief 85-84 lead with 8:51 left, but the Heat fought back with plenty of help from rookie Tyler Herro's team rookie postseason record 37 points to forge what seemed like an insurmountable nine-point lead with 56.2 seconds left. A couple of official's reviews and clutch three-pointers by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown kept things interesting to the final second, when Jimmy Butler drained a free throw and Boston couldn't get a three-point shot up in time immediately thereafter.
Jayson Tatum overcame an abysmal first half to score all 28 of his team-leading points in the second half, a tally he complemented with nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal. Jaylen Brown supplied 21 points, nine boards, two assists, one steal and one block. Kemba Walker furnished 20 points, five assists and four rebounds. Gordon Hayward managed 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Marcus Smart provided a 10-point, 11-assist double-double that also included two rebounds and one block.
Herro also posted six rebounds and three assists. Jimmy Butler followed with 24 points, supplementing them with nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Goran Dragic registered 22 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Bam Adebayo generated a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included four assists and two steals.
The two teams meet again for a potential series-ending Game 5 on Friday night.