NBA NEWS: The Boston Celtics won the Eastern Conference finals for the first time, however, it wasn’t beautiful. Read the article for this NBA News.
Less than 48 hours after yet another battle of attrition, the Miami Heat are facing elimination in a road Game 6. Neither side scored in the first half, but the Celtics went on a six-minute scoring spree from the conclusion of the third quarter to the start of the fourth.
The avalanche changed the series’ first back-and-forth game into the team’s sixth consecutive blowout win.
In a 93-80 triumph that ended a tied series, Boston’s top-ranked defense restricted Miami to 32 percent shooting from the field and 16 percent accuracy from 3-point range.
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In the first half, Celtics players Jayson Tatum and Jayson Brown combined for 10 points on 16 shots.
They hit all five of their fourth-quarter shots, including four 3-pointers, to increase their advantage to 83-60.
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NBA News: Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 10 points on 16 shots
Brown had a game-high 25 points, while Tatum came one assist shy of a triple-double (22 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists) to help Boston reach the Finals for the first time since 2010.
“We’re just playing basketball,” Brown said after the victory on ESPN. “It’s the postseason. You win one game.”
“We simply have to be terrific from game to game. [Jimmy Butler] may come out and score 40 points the following game. This game is only worth one point. We must be prepared for the next one.”
On Friday, the Celtics will host Game 6 of the series, which they have won 40 times in team history while leading a series 3-2. Fans in Boston will recall the Celtics’ 3-2 conference finals lead in 2012 when they were defeated by the Heat at home.
In the first half, both teams shot under 40% from the field and even worse from beyond the 3-point line. Miami only led 42-37 at halftime, despite scoring 12 points off 10 Boston turnovers and 16 points off nine offensive rebounds. It was unattractive. On the plus side, the series has seen its first lead changes since Game 2’s first quarter.
Injuries didn’t help matters. Marcus Smart entered the arena on crutches due to an injured ankle. Robert Williams III began with a knee that had been surgically repaired. Tatum aggravated his shooting shoulder on two occasions. Kyle Lowry has a strained left hamstring, while Butler has a swollen right knee. Tyler Herro’s groin injury kept him off the court for the whole season.
