East now best-of-three
Series tied 2-2 with pivotal Game 5 up next in Miami
Back. Forth. Back. Forth. The Miami Heat want to see that pattern continue. The Boston Celtics hope to break that trend. And the team that prevails Wednesday night will be one game away from the NBA Finals.
The Eastern Conference finals has been nothing more than a series of mood swings, with matters set to resume with Game 5 on Wednesday in Miami. The top-seeded Heat and second-seeded Celtics are knotted up at two games apiece; the Heat rallied in the second half to take Game 1, Boston used a huge first-half run to respond and win Game 2, Miami answered back in Game 3 and the Celtics romped in Game 4.
“It’s not surprising,” Boston coach Ime Udoka said Tuesday. “Two teams that are always going to fight, not really beat themselves, give themselves a chance. I’ve known Miami and (Heat coach Erik Spoelstra) for a while now and that’s the epitome of who they are — toughness. Both teams have matched that energy coming off of losses, and now it’s our turn to react better to a win.”
The Celtics — even without defensive player of the year Marcus Smart, left no doubt in Game 4, running out to an 18-1 lead to open the game and never coming close to giving up control.
Miami’s starters combined for 18 points in Game 4 — yes, combined, the lowest such total for a starting five in a playoff game in at least 40 years. The Heat were without Tyler Herro because of a groin issue, Jimmy Butler didn’t look right after missing half of Game 3 with knee soreness, and Kyle Lowry, Max Strus and P.J. Tucker combined to shoot 1-for-17.
It was ugly. But Spoelstra, somehow, still sees beauty in how the series has gone.
There hasn’t been a lead change since the first quarter of Game 2; Boston grabbed control of that game and never let go, Miami took a huge early lead in Game 3 and held on late and the Celtics took a stranglehold on Game 4 from the opening seconds.
“What you’re looking at is a great series,” Spoelstra said. “It’s 2-2. You have to embrace that and come together, and hopefully this competition brings out the absolute best in all of us.”
Bulls: Guard Zach Lavine underwent left knee arthroscopic surgery and the team said it was successful and he is expected to make a full recovery. Lavine averaged 24.4 points and made his second straight NBA All-star team last year.