Celtics vs Heat Game 4 score: Jayson Tatum leads Boston to blowout win, series heads back to Miami

The Boston Celtics as soon as once more bounced again after a playoff loss, blowing out the Miami Warmth 102-82 Monday evening, tying the Japanese Convention Finals at two video games apiece. 

For the fifth time this postseason, the Celtics adopted a loss with a win, now profitable after a loss by a median of 17.8 factors per sport in the course of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.  

“Simply received to muster that very same vitality once we got here off a win in addition to a loss,” Boston head coach Ime Udoka mentioned. “It is a three-game sequence now. Can’t all the time simply flip the mindset once we come off a loss and get a bit of determined.”

From the tip, it was clear that Boston was the hungrier crew, permitting simply 11 factors within the first quarter. Miami, with out the companies of Sixth Man of the Yr Tyler Herro, missed their first 14 photographs, not hitting their first subject objective till 3:22 left within the first quarter. 

“They got here out and jumped us,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. “In all probability greater than something, our offense actually harm us initially. We simply weren’t getting the form of purposeful execution that you must on the street, after which they have been in a position to get some reduction factors from that. After which get to the free throw line. They jumped out to that lead, and that was the story for the remainder of the sport.” 

Miami Warmth’s Kyle Lowry drives previous Celtics’ Jayson Tatum in the course of the Japanese Convention finals, Might 21, 2022, in Boston. 
(AP Picture/Michael Dwyer)

“We’re not making any excuses,” Spoelstra continued. “They outplayed us tonight for positive. We by no means might get any form of grip on the sport.”

Lacking Defensive Participant of the Yr Marcus Good, who sat out sport 4 as a consequence of a sprained ankle suffered within the Celtics’ sport three loss, Derrick White received the beginning for Boston, and scored the Celtics first seven factors of the sport. White completed the evening with 13 factors, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. 

Celtics All-Star ahead Jayson Tatum bounced again from a tricky sport three efficiency, capturing 8-16 from the sphere and completed the evening with 31 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists. 

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“Clearly, we knew how vital this sport was,” Tatum mentioned. “Everyone simply needed to provide you with a unique sense of urgency.”

The sequence now heads again to Miami for sport 5 on Wednesday, the place each groups hope to be nearer to full-strength.

“Accidents is part of this. It’s part of the playoffs. You study to adapt,” Miami’s Bam Adebayo mentioned after the loss. “Guys being out, guys enjoying half, guys enjoying 20 minutes within the sport, simply relies upon. You’ve simply received to discover a option to win.”

Miami Warmth’s Jimmy Butler drives in opposition to Celtics’ Jayson Tatum in the course of the NBA basketball playoffs, Might 21, 2022, in Boston.
(AP Picture/Michael Dwyer)

The ECF has been crammed with blowouts, with Boston profitable by 25 in sport two, and Miami holding a lead of 26 in sport three. The Celtics led by as many as 32 factors in sport 4. 

“Outdoors of those loopy runs, you could have two actually aggressive groups,” Spoelstra mentioned. “The scores, and that form of factor, doesn’t give the true indication of how aggressive it’s, and it will probably get away from both crew and any time. And that’s what you noticed tonight.”

Recreation 5 ideas off at 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday at FTX Area in Miami, Florida.

The Related Press contributed to this report.