The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 110-97 in game five, forcing a game six in Miami. The Heat made a push in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late. Game six now feels like a must win for Miami with all the momentum on Boston’s side. Here’s a quick recap of Miami’s loss to Boston.
Stars Have to Show Up
Jimmy Butler assured fans before the game that his squad would be ready to play, but Jayson Tatum and the Celtics shut them down from the start. It’s clear that both Butler and Bam Adebayo need to be assertive at home to win this series.
Butler has proved time and time again that he’s arguably the best player in these playoffs; still, the Heat have to rely on him to close out this series. Coach Erik Spoelstra chose to spread out his rotation for the game, which honestly wasn’t a bad idea. However, the starters need to produce the most as they did in the first three games.
Haywood Highsmith is one standout who could actually be used more for the Heat. His offensive production may fall, but he’s a capable defender who will help set the tone for Miami.
Concluding Thoughts
The Boston Celtics have won four of the last eight games at Miami, so they will obviously be ready to play. Game six is a toss-up at this point, so it just comes down to who has more will on Saturday.
Boston has also improved on the defensive side recently, so the Heat might have to rely on their perimeter shooting quite a bit. Obviously, Spoelstra has guys like Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, etc., but playing without Gabe Vincent could be detrimental to the team. His status could be the decider of this series. Regardless, Miami has no excuses to go home after taking a 3-0 lead.