The Boston Celtics are not yet prepared to leave on vacation.
The Celtics appear serious about staging a comeback in the Eastern Conference finals based on their dominant performance on Tuesday.
With a 116-99 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 4, visiting Celtics avoided elimination because to Jayson Tatum’s 33 points and 11 rebounds.
Tatum made 14 of his 22 attempts at a field goal, including 4 of his 9 efforts from beyond the arc. For the second-seeded Celtics, who are down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series going into Game 5 on Thursday in Boston, he added seven assists as well.
Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown, guards for the Boston Celtics, chanted “Don’t let us win one” throughout Tuesday’s shootaround. After the match, Smart was already considering Game 5.
After scoring 11 points, Smart said, “Now we just have to go win another one, that’s all that matters.” “We’re only focusing on the current game. We are aware that the deck is stacked against us, but as a team, we never give up, and the only thing that counts is the next game.
Brown led the Celtics with 17 points, while Derrick White contributed 16 to keep Miami from becoming the second eighth-seeded club to reach the NBA Finals. The feat was accomplished by the 1998–1999 New York Knicks during a lockout-shortened season.
Al Horford contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, and 14 points off the bench for the Celtics, who turned the game around by outscoring the Heat 38-23 in the third quarter.
“There’s no rush. No pressure at all,” Horford stated, according to NBC Sports Boston, with a smile. It’s their fault. Right now, we’re playing rather carefree.
For the game, Boston had a field goal percentage of 51.2 percent (43 of 84) and a three-point percentage of 40 percent (18 of 45).
The Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla remarked, “We have to keep that same level of intensity, same mindset, and same focus for the next game,” two days after he blamed himself for his team’s dismal 128-102 loss in Game 3.
Jimmy Butler of Miami overcame a sluggish start to finish with 29 points and nine rebounds. When a reporter questioned if Boston is currently in the lead, Butler disagreed immediately.
“No. If anything, it will give us more momentum as we prepare to play with much more vigor, he claimed. “We need to act as though the game is on the line. We’ve improved all year when we have to go the difficult route.
The Heat, who are currently 6-1 at home in the playoffs, were defeated by Gabe Vincent (17 points) and Caleb Martin (16 points off the bench).
Martin stated, “It’s definitely disappointing.” “That would have been the ideal circumstance (to put a stop to it). Everyone is aware that we rarely accomplish things quickly or easily.
Miami had cut its third-quarter deficit to five points after trailing by 11 points late on, but Boston responded by scoring 12 baskets in a row to take the lead with 7:25 left in the fourth quarter, 100-83. During that run, Tatum and Smart each scored five points.
With 4:27 left, the Heat were within 13 points when Brown’s three-point play stopped the run. The remainder of the game did not pose a significant danger to the Celtics.
Early in the third quarter, Max Strus made a 3-pointer to give Miami a 61-52 lead before Boston went on an 18-0 run. Tatum added a jumper to the sequence and made two conversions from beyond the arc.
Before Tatum made a jumper and a layup and Williams sunk his fourth 3-pointer of the game, the Heat had closed the gap to 81-77.
