Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
MIAMI, FL- Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 47 points in a 93-80 win against the Miami Heat to take a 3-2 series lead.
Miami opened the game shooting 1-of-8 from the field. Boston converted on the Heat’s misses and took an early 7-2 lead.
Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler both scored in the paint to cut Miami’s deficit to one point, only for Boston to score four-straight points.
This prompted Miami to call a timeout with 5:18 left in the first quarter. The first quarter was a very low-scoring quarter as Miami entered the second quarter with a 19-17 lead.
However, the Celtics looked concerned as Jayson Tatum was in pain, holding his right shoulder at times. Plus, Jaylen Brown had four turnovers in the first quarter.
Miami opened the second quarter with a Caleb Martin tip shot and a 3-pointer from Duncan Robinson.
Tatum made his first field goal with a 3-pointer but the Heat had a 24-20 lead with 8:07 left in the first half. The game was still close as Miami outscored the Celtics 23-20 in the second quarter.
Miami entered halftime with a 42-37 lead and Adebayo led the Heat with 10 points at halftime.
After halftime, the Heat missed eight-straight shots but Max Strus was rewarded with four free throws. Meanwhile, Boston shot 5-of-8 to take a 49-46 lead over the Heat.
Butler was able to score the first third-quarter-bucket with a layup. Marcus Smart made a 3-pointer but Duncan Robinson responded with a 24-foot shot to cut Miami’s deficit to one.
Boston ended the third quarter with a 10-0 run and entered the fourth quarter with a 69-58 lead.
The Celtics extended their run (24-2) to take an 83-60 lead with 8:13 left in regulation. The Celtics outscored Miami 24-22 in the fourth quarter to win the game.
A Defensive Game
In the previous four games, both teams have scored over 50 points by halftime. In game 4, neither squad scored over 50 points over the other.
In fact, both teams combined for 79 points by halftime of game 5. From games 1-4, they averaged 94 half-time points.
Tatum struggled mightily in the first half, shooting 1-of-9 (11.1%) from the field and 1-of-5 (20.0%) from deep. It took him 16 minutes and two seconds for him to make his only bucket and to only score four points in the half.
Jaylen Brown also started the game cold, shooting 2-of-7 (28.6%) from the field in the first half.
For Miami, Max Strus and Kyle Lowry went scoreless and Butler shot 2-of-8 (25.0%) from the field with 7 points.
Boston shot 13-of-34 (38.2%) from the field and Miami shot 18-of-48 (37.5%) from the field by halftime. However, Boston outscored Miami in the second half, 56-38.
Adebayo was the leading scorer for Miami with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Unfortunately, the rest of the starters continued to struggle. Butler scored 13 points while shooting.
