If we’re talking about the Celtics’ journey in the playoffs, it’s all about making up for past defeats, especially against the Miami Heat.
Last year, the Heat got the better of the Celtics in a decisive Game 7 at TD Garden. This time around, the Celtics turned the tables.
Jaylen Brown and Derrick White led the charge with 25 points each as the Celtics secured their spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals, dominating the short-handed Heat 118-84 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Next up for Boston is the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando series, with the Cavaliers currently leading 3-2. Brown emphasized their focused mindset heading into the game.
“We knew the history, but it didn’t matter who we were facing. We just had a job to do,” Brown stated. Teammate Jayson Tatum echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of every playoff game.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve faced them in the playoffs. Each game carries the same weight… and we did what we came to do,” Tatum added.
Brown contributed six assists alongside his scoring, while White showcased his sharpshooting with five 3-pointers. Sam Hauser chipped in with 17 points, and Tatum posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Celtics maintained control throughout the game, never trailing and leading by as much as 37 points.
On the Heat’s side, Bam Adebayo led with 23 points, and Tyler Herro contributed 15, but their efforts weren’t enough as Miami struggled, particularly from beyond the arc, shooting a dismal 3 of 29 from 3-point range.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the Celtics’ heightened energy from the start, noting they had extra motivation facing Miami.
“They came out with a little extra fire against us,” Spoelstra commented. Despite the disappointing end to the season, Adebayo sees it as a learning opportunity for the team moving into the offseason.
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