After losing the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston Celtics It didn’t look like either team was ready to show dominance
But after winning the last two games by an average of 15 points, Celtics Very alive They will look to tie the best-of-seven series with three wins Heat Saturday when the teams play Game 6 in Miami
No NBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series, but Boston is halfway through avoiding elimination for the third and fourth time this season. Celtics Recorded two such wins against the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals
“Our backs have been against the wall,” Boston standout Jaylen Brown said after Thursday’s 110-97 home win. “Obviously, we didn’t imagine being in this position, being down 3-0, but when adversity strikes, you get to see what a team is really made of. I mean Well, it can’t be worse than being down.” 3-0, but we didn’t look around, we didn’t go in different directions. we stick together. We doubled down on what we’re good at in defense, and now I think it’s a series.”
Celtics Never trailed in Thursday’s game and led by 24 points. Two nights ago, he led by over 18 during a 116-99 road win.
The stellar play comes after Boston appeared poised to start the off-season after being beaten 128-102 in Game 3.
“Game 3, that was as low as you can be,” Celtics said star Jayson Tatum. “The good thing about being that low is you can only play better. It’s only up from there.
“It kind of made us feel like everybody was counting us out. We got to win. We should have been, and I think we started playing a little bit more free and relaxed.”
suddenly the pressure increased Heat
The idea of possibly playing Game 7 in Boston in a winner-takes-all affair isn’t appealing.
And that makes Saturday’s contest feel like a win-win for both teams.
Yet Miami star Jimmy Butler is downplaying his team’s recent issues.
Butler said, “We just have to play better.” “… We’re always going to be positive, knowing we can and we will win this series. We just have to close it out at home.”
Butler scored a series-low 14 points and failed to reach 20 in two of the last three games.
Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra Confused Joe Mazzulla In The First Three Games But It Was The First Year Celtics The coach has been pressing all the right buttons in the last two matches
“One game doesn’t lead to the next,” Spoelstra said. “It doesn’t matter. It’s about preparing and putting together a great game collectively. We’ll play a lot better on Saturday. We just have to focus on it now.”
Majulla didn’t have a profound explanation for the turnaround.
“It just says that our backs are against the wall and we’re sticking together and we’re competing at a high enough level to give ourselves a chance,” Mazulla said.
Heat Center Bam Adebayo made it clear his club’s confidence remains high
Adebayo said, “When we started this journey, nobody believed in us.” “Everyone thought we were going to be eliminated in the first round. Everyone thought we were going to be eliminated in the second round. And now here we are, one game away.”
Boston had four 20-point scorers in Game 5. Derrick White made six 3-pointers and led with 24 points, Marcus Smart had 23 and Tatum and Brown each scored 21.
Duncan Robinson led Miami with 18 points.
Heat Guard Gabe Vincent (ankle) missed Game 5 and his status for Saturday has not yet been determined
– Field Level Media