Thanks to a strong second half, the Boston Celtics are on the verge of reaching the NBA finals
The Celtics won game five of the play-off semi-finals at the Miami Heat 93-80 (37-42) on Wednesday (local time) and can clinch their first finals appearance since 2010 at home on Friday. Boston now leads the Eastern Conference championship series 3-2 and needs just one more win to advance.
After a mostly even first half, the visitors started a run in the second half. They turned a 59:58 into an 83:60 and thus ensured the decision. The Heat again showed an enormous weakness in throwing, as only 32 percent of all throws found their target. The rate of three-point shots was even weaker with 16 percent. The Heat’s best scorer was Bam Adebayo with 18 points.
Daniel Theis did not play a second and remained without playing time for the first time in the series. Top star Jason Tatum was the match-winner for Boston with 22 points, twelve rebounds and nine assists, while Jalen Brown was the top scorer with 25 points. “We can’t think it’s over,” Tatum said, “The job’s not done yet. “
The Celtics won their 17th and last championship in 2008, overturning a 2-1 deficit in the series against Miami and knocking off the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks before that. “This is a great opportunity,” Brown said, “We have a chance to do something special.”
The second finalist will be determined in the West by the Dallas Mavericks with Maximilian Kleber and the Golden State Warriors. The series is 3-1 in favour of the Warriors.
