The Miami Heat will have to wait. Given the pace of the Eastern Conference Finals, it seemed that Erik Spoelstra's team would have clinched their spot in the playoffs and been on their way to the NBA Finals but it was not to be. The Boston Celtics managed to win 116-99 in Game 4 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, leaving the series 3-1 and forcing a fifth game.
That's one ✅#UnfinishedBusiness pic.twitter.com/mhJtSKTRg6
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 24, 2023
The game got off to a good start for the Miami Heat. At halftime, they went into the break with a 6-point lead (56-50). However, the Boston Celtics came back in the third quarter 38-23, turning the game around. In the last 12 minutes of the game, Boston widened the gap on the scoreboard.
The star of the game who saved the Celtic's season was Jayson Tatum. He finished the game with a brilliant double-double (33 points and 11 rebounds plus 7 assists). He played a strong defense (Miami shot 8 for 32 on three-pointers).
Aside from Tatum, the other four players in the Boston Celtics starting five were outstanding. Jaylen Brown improved his stats (17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists) from Game 3 and Derrick White finished the game with 16 points. Al Horford (12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists) was in the zone and managed to take down Bam Adebayo. Marcus Smart's performance wasn't as strong as the other four starters. Still, he scored 11 points and made 6 assists. Grant Williams, who scored 14 points and made 6 rebounds, was another key player in the game.
surged ahead in the second half 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/gEeI3bvDdu
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 24, 2023
Jimmy Butler's game stats were not enough for the Miami Heat. The forward scored 29 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished out 5 assists. Bam Adebayo wasn't able to beat Al Horford on the court. Aside from Butler's performance, Gabe Vincent (17 points) and Caleb Martin (16 points) also had a great game.
If the Boston Celtics advance to the NBA Finals, it would be an absolutely historic event. There has never been a franchise that has managed to come back from a 3-0 series deficit in the playoffs. The Eastern Conference Finals will now head to Massachusetts, where Game 5 will be played at Boston's TD Garden.
BRACKET UPDATE 🍿
The East Finals continue as Boston forces a Game 5!
Visit the Playoff Hub for more: https://t.co/MndHjxD29g pic.twitter.com/C2jAAH13KW
— NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2023
