Tatum Paces Celtics in Game 4
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Shara Talia Taylor
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The Boston Celtics could not afford to go down 3 games to 1 when they hosted the Miami Heat Tuesday night at TD Garden Tuesday night. Boston, right from the start, played knowing their shot at getting to the NBA Finals was on the line. The Celtics suffocated Miami jumping out to a shocking 18-1 lead forcing the Heat into missing their first 14 shots and 15 of their first 16
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
Both teams were missing key players. Boston was without defensive stalwart Marcus Smart while Miami was without Tyler Herro.
Miami scored their first point at the 3:22 mark of the first quarter. A stellar effort by Victor Oladipo did his best scoring 23 points but had no help from the other starters. Bam Adebayo scored 9 points. Jimmy Butler 6 points, Kyle Lowry, 3 points were swarmed all night. PJ Tucker and Max Stus ended their night scoring not 1 point. “We couldn’t really get it going tonight, but it’s a seven-game series for a reason,” said Oladipo in the post-game conference tweeted by Miami.
Boston’s Al Horford set the tone on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He only scored 5 points but grabbed 13 rebound (2 offensive, 11 defensive) and made it tough for the Heat to establish an inside game as he added 4 blocks.
Oladipo added 12 more points in the second quarter, yet the Heat were still behind 57-33 at halftime. Miami returned in the third quarter with intensified efforts and tied the Celtics with 19 points, but Boston led 76-52. Caleb Martin led the Heat with nine points for the quarter. The Heat outscored the Celtics 30-26 in the fourth quarter. However, it was all garbage time points.
Oladipo added 12 more points in the second quarter, yet the Heat were still behind 57-33 at halftime. Miami returned in the third quarter with intensified efforts and tied the Celtics with 19 points, but Boston led 76-52. Caleb Martin led the Heat with nine points for the quarter. The Heat outscored the Celtics 30-26 in the fourth quarter. However, it was all garbage time points.
An exasperated Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said, “they came out and jumped on us. We’re not making any excuses. They outplayed us tonight for sure. We never could get any kind of grip on the game.”
Jason Tatum led the Celtics with 31 total points and five assists. Said Tatum afterwards, “obviously we knew how important this game was. Everybody just had to come up with a different sense of urgency.”
The series now 2-2 returns to Miami Wednesday night.
Jason Tatum led the Celtics with 31 total points and five assists. Said Tatum afterwards, “obviously we knew how important this game was. Everybody just had to come up with a different sense of urgency.”
The series now 2-2 returns to Miami Wednesday night.
Sports Editor Andrew Rosario contributed to this article.
Recent Comments