Inside The Celtics

Here's What Stood Out in Game 5 Win vs. Heat: Celtics Reconnecting to Swing Series Momentum

Jayson Tatum's near triple-double and the Celtics' stifling defense propels them to a Game 6 in Miami.

Bobby Krivitsky

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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The Celtics' march toward history continues. 

Boston's regained the identity that best suits it, with defense laying the foundation for its success at the other end. That also helps them maintain focus, regardless of whether shots are falling or the whistles aren't going their way.

Putting defense at the forefront has also paved the way for regaining the connectivity needed to become the first team in NBA history to erase a 3-0 deficit.

Of course, like the Celtics, one should take this one game at a time. Saturday in South Beach could bring an end to their season.

But Thursday at TD Garden, they protected the parquet, climbing back to .500 (11-11) at home the last two postseasons.

Jayson Tatum nearly registered a triple-double in Boston's 110-97 win. The two-time All-NBA First Team wing finished with 21 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, and two steals and was terrific defensively.

Derrick White, who was stellar at both ends, led all scorers with 24 points, drilling 6/8 threes. Backcourt mate Marcus Smart also delivered an excellent two-way performance, setting the tone by diving to the floor for a steal on the game's first possession.

He ended the night with 23 points and five steals. And like White, he ensured the hosts maintained an up-tempo operation, paving the way to consistently creating quality, in-rhythm shots.

In Game 4, the Celtics generated 30 more points from beyond the arc than the Heat. Thursday, with their approach feeding into their success at both ends of the court, they manufactured a 21-point advantage from three-point range. When that happens, it's hard for the loser of that battle to be the winner of the game.

Now, for a deep dive into what stood out in Thursday's victory, extending the Eastern Conference Finals and keeping Boston's championship hopes alive.

1. Marcus Smart got off to a fantastic start at both ends of the court, stripping the ball free, then diving on the floor for a steal that led to a Jayson Tatum layup. The Celtics' starting floor general also buried back-to-back corner threes, registering eight of Boston's first 15 points.

2. The hosts' jumping out to a lead that grew as large as 16 in the first frame was primarily a product of their energy and shot-making. Here's a play that exemplified both.

The Celtics drilled 7/12 threes in the opening quarter, five more than Miami. That included Derrick White beating the first-quarter buzzer to give Boston a 35-20 lead after 12 minutes.

The C's also forced six turnovers and didn't commit any, resulting in a 10-0 advantage in points off giveaways.

3. Tatum was at his best attacking downhill in the first period. Despite making 1/3 attempts from beyond the arc, the four-time All-Star led all scorers with 12 points on 5/8 shooting.

4. Boston cooled off in the second quarter, faring 4/13 from three-point range. Five turnovers resulting in nine points for the Heat didn't help either.

But with Jaylen Brown leading the way, generating 12 points in the second frame, and leading all participants with 15 first-half points, the Celtics pushed a lead the visitors were threatening to cut to single digits to 61-44 at the break.

5. An 8-0 run late in the period helped accomplish that. Derrick White was at the center of that, burying a three, then pushing the pace off a Miami miss, creating an open corner three for Al Horford, which Brown cleaned up with the Heat out of position.

White entered halftime with 14 points, the second-most at the break, knocking down 5/7 shots, including 4/5 threes. As illustrated in the paragraph above, he also helped ensure Boston maintained an up-tempo operation, and he played well defensively, reflected in his plus-19 plus-minus rating, the highest mark after 24 minutes.

It's also noteworthy White played 19 minutes in the first half. Marcus Smart was excellent, too, contributing 13 points and stellar defense in 16 minutes. 

Malcolm Brogdon, the third member of the Celtics' backcourt trio, who's dealing with an arm injury impacting his shooting, logged a quiet eight minutes, going scoreless and missing both shots he hoisted.

6. The third quarter saw both teams continue trading blows. After it was 26-24 Boston in the second, it was 29-28 Celtics in the first 12 minutes after halftime. Considering they started the third frame with a 17-point lead, the hosts were happy to nearly play to a standstill, taking a 90-72 advantage into the last 12 minutes.

While Bam Adebayo got hot for the Heat, registering ten points to lead all scorers, Marcus Smart, continuing to deliver an excellent two-way performance, paced the Celtics with eight. The latter also swiped two more steals, giving him five in the first 36 minutes.

7. While it didn't cost Boston much, this author disagreed with how often Tatum brought the ball up in the third quarter. That tends to mean walking it up the floor, slowly easing into possessions, making it harder to score.

8. During the third frame, the Celtics ruled Brogdon, who never played after halftime, as doubtful to return due to his right forearm soreness.

9. With the fourth quarter bringing more gridlock and Boston not beating itself, the hosts had outscored their guests 17-16 with 3:20 left, resulting in Erik Spoelstra taking a timeout to empty his bench with his team trailing 107-88.

From there, the Celtics put the finishing touches on a 110-97 win to force a Game 6 in Miami.

Up Next

Game 6 between the Celtics and Heat is at the Kaseya Center; tip-off is at 8:30 ET. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the matchup before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

Film Room: Grant Williams' Value on Full Display in Celtics' Game 4 Win vs. Heat

Celtics Stars Speak on Team Sticking Together Down 3-0: 'We Didn't Want That to Define Us'

Celtics Discuss Returning to Identity Best Suiting Them in Game 4 Win: 'We're a Team That Believes in Us No Matter What'

Jaylen Brown Responds to Rumors of Disconnect in Celtics Locker Room

Here's What Stood Out in Game 4 Win vs. Heat: Celtics Get Back to Defensive Identity to Save Their Season

Looking to do the Impossible, Celtics Channel Kevin Millar: 'Don't Let Us Get One'

Trading Jaylen Brown is a Gamble the Celtics are Better Off Not Making

Joe Mazzulla Takes Blame for Celtics' Getting Blown Out in Game 3 of Eastern Conference Finals: 'I Have to be Better'

Here's What Stood Out in Game 3 Loss to Heat: Celtics on Brink of Elimination After Worst Performance This Postseason

Celtics React to Letting 12-Point Lead Slip in Fourth Quarter of Game 2 Loss to Heat: 'We Let Everybody Down'

Celtics Address 'Letting Go of the Rope' After Game 1 Loss to Heat

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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