Author: Monojit Mandal
Celtics 116-99 Heat
The Boston Celtics rallied from a nine-point deficit at the start of the third quarter and a 3-0 series deficit to avoid elimination from the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Celtics controlled the second half to beat the Miami Heat 116-99 in Game 4 on Tuesday night, led by a spectacular effort from Jayson Tatum, who scored 33 points and 11 rebounds, and supported by Jaylen Brown’s 17 points.
With the season on the line, the Celtics knew they had to give it their all. Afterwards, Tatum reiterated his determination, saying: “We were just trying to save our season”. And they really did preserve it. Two important elements contributed to their success: a spectacular 30-point lead on 3-point shots and an explosive 18-0 run in the third quarter, which dramatically transformed the game and injected new optimism into the series.
Derrick White (16 points), Grant Williams (14 points), Al Horford (12 points) and Marcus Smart (11 points) contributed to the Celtics’ offensive success. Despite this big win, the Celtics are still trailing the series 3-1. Even so, they forced a Game 5 in Boston on Thursday, keeping alive hopes of a comeback in the series.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler led his team with 29 points, but was unable to compensate for the Celtics’ dominance. In a 14-minute period, the Heat were defeated 48-22, changing the balance of the game and perhaps the series. If the Celtics continue to stretch the series, they will have the chance to force a Game 7 on their own court.
Miami had contributions from Gabe Vincent (17 points), Caleb Martin (16 points) and Bam Adebayo (10 points), but their problems from beyond the arc, making just 8 of 32 shots, were a major setback. The Celtics, on the other hand, demonstrated their ability to shoot from long range, hitting 18 of their 45 3-point attempts.
This victory has historic significance, as no club in the history of the NBA has managed to recover from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. The Celtics, on the other hand, managed to rekindle hope and keep their title hopes alive.
Miami led throughout the first half, with a nine-point advantage in the first quarter and maintained it until Max Strus’ three-point basket at the start of the third quarter. The Celtics’ season was on the verge of collapse at this important moment.
The Celtics responded with an impressive 18-0 run that drastically changed the course of the game. That incredible run of three minutes and three seconds saw Boston go from a nine-point deficit to a nine-point lead. During this period, the Celtics were virtually unbeatable, making six of their seven field goal attempts, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Tatum scored nine points during that run, bringing back flashbacks of last year’s playoffs, when the Celtics won three games on Miami’s home court.
Although Miami reduced the lead to four points at the end of the third quarter, the Celtics responded with another lightning burst, scoring seven consecutive points in 40 seconds. Boston led the Heat 88-79 at the start of the fourth quarter, having outscored them 38-23 in the third period, with 21 of those points coming from successful 3-point attempts.