Loading...
In the NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Heat 104-84 in a pivotal matchup in Miami on April 27 to give the series a 2-1 lead. The Celtics showed their strong offensive and defensive balance, and Jayson Tatum in particular proved himself once again as a superstar with his all-round performance.
Tatum shot 6-of-16 from the field, 2-of-7 from three-point range, and made 8 free throws to lead the team to victory with 22 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block. His performance was crucial in the game, especially when the score was pulled away in the third quarter. Tatum also surpassed the 2,300-point mark in his playoff career total, becoming only the third player after Kobe Bryant and James to do so before the age of 27.
Alongside Tatum was Jaylen Brown, who also had a strong performance in the game, scoring 22 points on 11-of-20 shooting, in addition to eight rebounds and three assists, once again proving his worth in the Celtics system.
The Celtics' defense was also key to winning the game, especially the restrictions on the Heat's Jimmy Butler, who had a lackluster performance in this game. Butler scored just 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting from the field, and also had four turnovers and a plus/minus of -16, which was clearly not his best performance.
For the Heat, apart from Butler, Adebayo scored 20 points and nine rebounds, but still couldn't prevent the team from taking a heavy hit. The Celtics' tight defense and quick counter-attacks left the Heat in a tough battle and unable to find an effective way to score.
The win not only gave the Celtics the series lead, but also rekindled their championship hopes. In the next game, the Heat need to find a breakthrough point on the road, otherwise the Celtics are likely to extend their advantage. For Heat coach Spoelstra, how to adjust tactics to deal with the Celtics' high-intensity defense will be the key to the next game.
Score data
Celt:
- Jayson Tatum: 22 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block
- Jaylen Brown: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
- Marcus Smart: 15 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
- Al Horford: 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
- Derrick White: 9 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds
- Robert Williams: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks
- Christian Bradley: 5 points, 3 rebounds
Miami heat:
- Bam Adebayo: 20 points, 9 rebounds
- Jimmy Butler: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
- Kyle Lowry: 12 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds
- Max Strus: 9 points, 2 rebounds
- Tyler Herro: 8 points, 3 rebounds
- Kyle Anderson: 6 points, 4 rebounds
- Gabe Vincent: 5 points, 2 rebounds
The Celtics' victory was attributed to their excellent performance on the defensive end and the scoring efficiency of Tatum and Brown. They managed to limit Butler's scoring opportunities and excelled in rebounding and assists. In addition, the Celtics' bench performance has also outperformed the Heat, adding valuable points and defensive stability to the team.
The Heat's loss was largely due to the poor performance of their leading scorers and too many turnovers on the team as a whole. Despite Bam Adebayo's attempts to salvage the game, the team's overall low shooting percentage and leaky defensive end made it difficult for them to compete against the efficient Celtics.
One of the biggest controversies in the game occurred in the third quarter, when Butler was called an offensive foul while attacking the basket, a decision that caused widespread discontent among the Heat and the audience. Replays showed that while the contact seemed insignificant, the referees stuck to the preliminary verdict, which affected the Heat's tempo and morale.
As can be seen from this game, Celtic's depth and diversity are their key strengths. Tatum and Brown's performances proved once again that they are one of the most dangerous duos in the league. In addition, the Celtics' defensive strategy is also commendable, and they have managed to limit the Heat's offense to a low level of efficiency. The Heat will need to find a new strategy in the next game, especially on the offensive end, to have a chance of pulling one back.
In this game, the Celtics showed their strength and tactical flexibility on the road, successfully regaining home advantage through excellent defense and Tatum and Brown's scoring ability. Although the Heat showed fighting spirit, the scoring efficiency at key moments and the referee's controversial decision affected the pace of the game and the mental state. The Celtics' victory was not just a display of individual heroism, but a victory of teamwork and strategy. In the upcoming games, the Heat will need to focus on improving their ability to transition and control the game, while the Celtics should continue to use their depth and defensive intensity to maintain their advantage in the upcoming series.