The Boston Celtics were discussing a return trip to South Florida just seconds after averting a sweep at the hands of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Injury Update for Boston Celtics – Miami Heat
While talk is cheap, the topic will turn real if the Celtics avoid elimination for the second time in a row when they face the Heat in Game 5 on Thursday in Boston.
“We want to come back to Miami,” declared Jaylen Brown after the Celtics evaded the brooms with a 116-99 win in Game 4 on Tuesday. They are still behind the eighth-seeded Heat 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Jayson Tatum scored 25 of his 33 points in the second half on Tuesday, including 14 in the third quarter, when Boston dominated Miami 38-23. Tatum made 11 of 15 shots from the floor after the break.
Tatum wasn’t the only one. The Celtics shot 51.2 percent from the field (43 of 84) and 40 percent from 3-point range (18 of 45) in the contest.
“Yeah, everyone was in good spirits, everybody was upbeat, and as cliche as it sounds, we just tried to take it one game at a time,” Tatum explained.
“We didn’t play well in the first three games and didn’t deserve to win, but we didn’t want that to define us or the season.”
“We still have a long uphill battle ahead of us.” However, (Tuesday) was a good start. Just to keep this momentum going till Thursday,” he continued.
However, the postseason has not been kind to the home tenants at TD Garden. The Celtics have now lost five of their last seven home games.
However, prior to Tuesday’s loss in Miami, the Heat had won all six of their home playoff games.
About injury, Gallinari (knee) will miss Game 5 on Thursday.
Gallinari has yet to appear this season, so his absence on Thursday is understandable. The veteran forward does not appear to be on his way back into the lineup.
The Heat were denied their first chance to advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons. They were also denied their first opportunity to join the 1998-99 New York Knicks as the league’s only eighth-seeded teams to reach the NBA Finals.
On Tuesday, Jimmy Butler set team records for points (29) and rebounds (9).
Butler didn’t have it easy in Game 4, as Boston’s defense finally showed up and forced the All-Star to struggle for every point. Butler successfully made contact, earning 10 points from the charity stripe.
When that total is removed, Game 4 represents a substantial scoring decline for Butler, Miami’s leading offensive engine.
Butler refused to be discouraged despite the team’s initial missed opportunities.
“The only thing I’m going to say is that we’ll be OK,” Butler added. “Let’s get back to doing what we’ve always done to get here. Maintain constant faith in one another, knowing that we will triumph. We just need to work harder.
“With this group, there’s not much to say because we already know. So all we have to do now is go out there and execute.”
Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo, and Gabe Vincent remain on the Heat’s injury list for this game.
Heat injuries:
- Kevin Love (Lower Leg) – Questionable
- Tyler Herro (Hand) – Out
- Victor Oladipo (Knee) – Out for the season
Celtics injuries:
- Danilo Gallinari (Knee) – Out
