Celtics’ focus is to halt Heat’s outside attack
Boston held Miami to less than 20 percent from 3-point range in its Game 5 victory on Friday
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. There have been two undeniable truths about the Miami Heat this season.
They must make 3s to win.
They aren’t invincible with sizable leads. Take away Miami’s 3s, and the Heat are easier to beat. The Celtics proved that again in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals when they extended their season with a victory — and will aim to take the same tact Sunday night when they meet the Heat again in another must-win for Boston.
“They’re going to hit some shots, they’re going to make some plays,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “They’ve got some good players. We’re just trying to make it as tough as we could.”
The Heat have played 87 games this season and shot below 20 percent from 3-point range in just three of them — one of them being Friday night, when the Celtics prevailed 121-108 to cut Miami’s lead in the series to 3-2.
Miami was 7-for-36 from deep, just 19 percent.
“Regardless of whether it’s going in or not, that can’t affect your commitment on the other side of the floor,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And it felt like it did.”
“This team has good resolve,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “I thought we showed that last night. We’ll have to continue to show the ability to be able to handle good and bad throughout a game.”
Even though the disappointment was clear Friday night, the Heat still understand where they are: a No. 5 seed, one that didn’t even make the playoffs last season, one win from the NBA Finals.
The Celtics outscored Miami 70-50 after halftime and erased a 12-point secondquarter deficit.
“As you go on, the wins get harder and harder,” Heat guard Duncan Robinson said.
Miami is 55-32 this season, and 18 of those losses have come in games where the Heat held a double-digit lead. Boston has beaten Miami four times this season, rallying from at least 11 points down in three of those games — including a pair of 12-point comebacks in this series.
Miami has lost games this year in which it led by 10 points once, 11 (four times), 12 (five times), 13 (once), 14 (twice), 15 (once), 20 (once), 22 (twice) and 23 (once). For whatever reason, 31.1 percent is the magic number for Heat 3-pointers this season.
When the Heat shoot 31.1 percent or worse from beyond the arc, they’re 2-17 (.105). When they shoot better than that, they’re 53-15 (.779).