Author: Monojit Mandal
Although the Miami Heat failed to achieve a complete sweep in the playoffs, there is growing unanimity among analysts that they will complete a gentleman’s sweep in Game 5 to crown their dominance over the Boston Celtics. Despite the Celtics’ tough defense in Game 4, expectations are high that Jimmy Butler and the rest of the Miami team will be ready to increase their motivation in the next game. With the series coming to an end, the Heat hope to wrap things up quickly and have a well-deserved week off before the start of the long-awaited NBA Finals.
In a shocking comeback, the Boston Celtics beat the Heat 116-99 in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals
to keep their hopes alive. After three consecutive defeats, the Celtics came back with a bang, thanks to the incredible effort of point guard Jayson Tatum, who scored 33 points to lead his team to victory. This win not only prevented a sweep in the series, but also gave a ray of hope to Boston, who now have a tough task to extend the series even further.
No club in NBA history has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series, so this game is crucial for both sides. With a 3-1 lead, the Heat were desperate to win and continue their domination. They know the importance of preventing the Celtics from gaining momentum, which could change the course of the series. With the Denver Nuggets having already clinched a spot in the NBA Finals, the Heat were hoping to follow suit soon, getting some much-needed rest before the grueling best-of-seven championship series.
Game 4 was a chance for the Celtics to salvage their honor and avoid a catastrophic humiliation. They showed great progress from the previous match. All five starters scored in double figures, indicating a well-balanced attacking performance. Despite Jaylen Brown’s strong 17-point effort, Boston will need more from him and the rest of the team if they want to force a Game 6. If that doesn’t happen, it could be the end of his season on Thursday night.
Despite the Celtics’ turnaround, the Heat still have a decisive advantage in the series. After the Los Angeles Lakers’ sweep of the Nuggets, Miami understands the importance of finishing this series quickly, to maximize their rest and recovery time. The Celtics’ impressive performance in Game 4 showed, however, that they won’t give up without a fight.
The Denver Nuggets, on the other hand, created records by qualifying for the NBA Finals for the first time in 46 years. The Nuggets, led by two-time NBA MVP Nikola-Jokic, cruised to a 4-0 victory over the defending champions, the Lakers, in the Western Conference finals. His incredible journey sets the scene for a much-anticipated NBA Finals game against the Miami Heat in 2023. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics need to win four consecutive games against the Miami Heat to prevent this tantalizing encounter from becoming a reality.