Celtics are still alive in Eastern Conference Finals with Game 5 in Boston

The Boston Celtics’ season didn’t finish in Sport 4 of their Japanese Convention finals matchup with the Miami Warmth, and now there’s a flicker of hope.

Whether or not Boston’s 116-99 victory on Tuesday night time was the beginning of a miraculous revival or just a momentary reprieve from what NBA history suggests continues to be inevitable stays to be decided.

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On the very least, the Celtics’ win made their possibilities of changing into the primary NBA staff in 151 tries to beat a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven collection transfer from insurmountable to iffy heading into Sport 5 at TD Backyard on Thursday.

That’s good for a staff that had spent most of this collection trying nothing just like the one which earned the convention’s second seed.

“We’ve simply obtained to go win one other one. That’s all that issues,” Celtics guard Marcus Good stated. “We take it one sport at a time. We perceive the percentages are stacked towards us, however we’re a staff that believes in us it doesn’t matter what, and we’ve simply obtained to maintain going, and all that issues is the subsequent sport.”

CELTICS STAVE OFF ELIMINATION WITH GAME 4 VICTORY OVER HEAT IN EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

A lot of what made the Celtics one of many league’s prime scoring and defensive groups in the course of the common season was eviscerated in three straight losses to Miami to open the collection.

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives towards Caleb Martin #16 of the Miami Warmth in the course of the fourth quarter in sport 4 of the Japanese Convention Finals at Kaseya Middle on Might 23, 2023 in Miami, Florida.  (Megan Briggs/Getty Photos)

The Warmth befuddled Boston in these video games. It took away prime scoring threats Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, whereas outshooting a Celtics staff that often has demolished opponents on the 3-point line.

Boston confirmed acumen on each ends in Sport 4, rallying throughout a game-changing 18-0 run within the third quarter. Led by Tatum’s 33 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, the Celtics outscored the Warmth by 30 factors from past the arc and turned Miami’s 16 turnovers into 27 factors.

It additionally gave the Celtics a blueprint going ahead.

“We’ve nonetheless obtained an extended uphill battle to go,” Tatum stated.

Whereas the win gave the Celtics a bit of life, the Warmth can blame themselves for not ending. The sport was shut for 3 quarters and Miami nonetheless simply must win one of many last three video games to make it again to the NBA Finals for the primary time since its run in 2020 within the Florida bubble. Denver is ready to play the winner after sweeping the Lakers.

Boston Celtics, from left, Marcus Good, Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams III head to the bench within the fourth quarter. The Celtics beat the Miami Warmth, 116-99, in Sport 4 of the 2023 Japanese Convention Finals. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe through Getty Photos)

Boston gained 3 times on the Warmth’s dwelling ground final 12 months within the East finals. With a win on Thursday, Miami would accomplish the identical feat on Boston’s ground this 12 months.

The Celtics are 4-5 at dwelling this postseason.

Warmth star Jimmy Butler stated he isn’t nervous about Boston’s first win giving it momentum heading dwelling.

“No. If something, it would construct momentum for us realizing that we now have to play with much more vitality,” Butler stated. “We’ve obtained to play like our backs are towards the wall. However I believe all 12 months lengthy, we’ve been higher after we’ve needed to do issues the onerous approach.”

Jaylen Brown #7 and Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics work together towards the Miami Warmth in the course of the fourth quarter in sport 4 of the Japanese Convention Finals at Kaseya Middle on Might 23, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Photos)

INJURY WATCH

The Warmth are making ready for Sport 5 with two key gamers on the mend.

Gabe Vincent, who has been a sparkplug by the collection and had 17 factors in Sport 4, left the sport within the fourth quarter after turning his left ankle.

Kyle Lowry additionally took an ungainly fall, leaving the situation of Miami’s level guards up within the air.

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“Everytime you ask these guys, they’re like, ‘Yeah, I’m fantastic.’ So we’ll see,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra stated after Sport 4.