Tatum and Celtics stave off elimination with Game 4 win over Heat in East finals
Down nine early in the third quarter, down 3-0 in the series, the Boston Celtics knew their season was completely on the brink.
Three minutes later, everything looked different.
Jayson Tatum had 34 points and 11 rebounds, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each added 16 points and the Celtics staved off elimination in the Eastern Conference finals by running away in the second half to beat the Miami Heat 116-99 in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
“We were just trying to save our season,” Tatum said.
They most definitely found a way to do that. The two big differences: a 33-point edge for the Celtics on three-pointers, and an 18-0 run in that three-minute, third-quarter spurt that changed the game and – they hope – might end up changing the series.
“We can’t relax,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We have to keep the same level of intensity, the same mindset, the same focus in the next game.”
Grant Williams scored 14, Al Horford added 12 and Marcus Smart scored 11 for the Celtics, who still trail the series 3-1 – but sent it back to Boston for a Game 5 on Thursday.
Jimmy Butler scored 29 for Miami, who were outscored 48-22 in a 14minute stretch that turned the game – and perhaps the series – completely around. Boston would also have Game 7 on its floor as well if it can keep extending this series.
“Tonight we played with pace, purpose,” Tatum said. “We were getting stops. We were getting out in transition. You see layups and free throws go in, the jump shots start to feel a lot easier.”
Gabe Vincent scored 17 for Miami, Caleb Martin had 16 and Bam Adebayo added 10. The Heat shot 8 for 32 on three-pointers, while Boston was 19 for 45.
No team in NBA history has ever successfully rallied from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series; 150 have tried, 150 have failed.
But the Celtics gave themselves hope.
“We don’t really have a choice,” Mazzulla said. “It’s do-or-die. Got to stick
together.”
The Heat led by as many as nine points in the opening quarter, kept the lead for the majority of the first half and were up by nine again when Max Strus connected on a three-pointer early in the third quarter.
That was the moment where Boston’s season was at stake.
And the Celtics responded – most emphatically.