The Boston Celtics avoid elimination with a blowout 116-99 win over the Miami Heat behind Jayson Tatum’s 33 points, including 25 in the second half, forcing Game 5 at TD Garden
- Jayson Tatum played for the desperate Celtics – scoring 34 points in the win
- The Heat were beaten hard from deep, outscored by 33 points – shooting 25%
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The Boston Celtics have come and gone. From the scene of their criminal performance just two days prior, the road team produced a never-before-seen spirit in the Eastern Conference Finals to win 116-99.
Boston is still alive in the Eastern Finals and faces another playoff game, this time at the less hostile TD Garden in Massachusetts.
Jayson Tatum produced a superstar performance worthy of his reputation, scoring 25 points in the second half, finishing with 33 on the night. Tatum also had 11 rebounds and seven assists.
After trailing at halftime, Boston – behind Tatum’s brilliance – rallied to destroy the Heat from the field in the closing quarters, outscoring Erik Spoelstra’s team, 66-43.
In what will surely be great news for the NBA and neutral observers, there will be at least one more game before the best-of-seven series against Denver for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Jayson Tatum gave the Boston Celtics a life-saving Game 4 win with 34 points
It’s an overstatement to say the show’s complexion has changed dramatically, but Tuesday’s redeeming performance in Miami could set off a season-altering chain of events.
The C’s had more than Tatum to thank despite being the catalyst for his season-saving performance.
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown both had 16 points, while the Boston bench got up; Grant Williams went 4 of 6 from deep for 14 points and Robert Williams III added seven.
For the stifled Heat, Jimmy Butler had 29 points on a poor shooting night, going 9 for 21 from the field. He had nine rebounds and five assists.
Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin were helpful, scoring 17 and 16 points respectively.
Despite its outright desire to defeat Miami, Boston’s superiority behind the arc proved crucial.
Joe Mazzulla’s team was +33 from deep in a game they won by 17. The Heat’s 25 percent 3-point shooting was nearly half of its 48 percent in the first three games of the series.
With the series still playing drastically in favor of the Florida franchise, Boston has the opportunity to force a Game 6 in Miami, down 3-2.
The Celtics superstar got the better of Miami’s Jimmy Butler, who had 29 of 9 of 21 FG points
