Celtics Dominate Heat, Advance to Second Round
The Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Celtics, leading the series 3-1, returned to their home court today aiming to secure their spot in the next round. Facing a depleted Heat squad, the Celtics unleashed an offensive onslaught in the first half, building a lead of over 20 points.
Revenge for Last Year’s Defeat
With a final score of 118-84, the Celtics decisively eliminated the Heat, avenging their loss in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Early Playoff Clash
Meeting in the playoffs several times in recent years, the Celtics and the Heat clashed in the first round this year. However, the Heat found themselves severely hampered by injuries to key players, including Butler, Richardson, and Rozier. Even standout rookie Jaquez Jr. was sidelined with a hip flexor injury before Game 5.
Celtics’ First-Half Dominance
Despite missing key forward Porzingis due to injury, the Celtics showcased a balanced offensive attack in the first half. Tatum, Brown, and White combined for 49 points, outscoring the entire Heat team and establishing a commanding 68-46 lead.
Heat’s Struggles
In the first half, Adebayo led the Heat with 21 points, but he lacked sufficient support as the only player to reach double figures in scoring.
Celtics Maintain Pressure
The Celtics showed no signs of letting up after halftime, extending their lead to over 30 points. Both teams began to rotate their starters out as the outcome became clear well before the final buzzer.
Stellar Performances
White and Brown led the Celtics with 25 points each, while Tatum contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds. Hauser, coming off the bench, added 17 points. Adebayo led the Heat with 23 points, but the majority of his scoring came in the first half.
Celtics’ Playoff Legacy
With this victory, the Celtics have reached the second round for the seventh time in the last eight years. Additionally, they have evened the playoff series record against the Heat at 2-2 over the past five years.(Jiliasia)
| Team Statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Celtics | Heat | |
| 42/77 | Field Goals Attempted | 36/87 |
| 54.5 | Field Goal Percentage | 41.4 |
| 16/40 | Three-Pointers Made | 3/29 |
| 40.0 | Three-Point Percentage | 10.3 |
| 18/27 | Free Throws Made | 9/10 |
| 66.7 | Free Throw Percentage | 90.0 |
| 56 | Total Rebounds | 29 |
| 8 | Offensive Rebounds | 2 |
| 48 | Defensive Rebounds | 27 |
| 23 | Assists | 20 |
| 3 | Blocks | 0 |
| 5 | Steals | 4 |
| 14 | Turnovers | 6 |
| 52 | Points in the Paint | 58 |
| 15 | Personal Fouls | 17 |
