By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Jayson Tatum added 22 and the Celtics are now one win away from the NBA Finals.
Boston beat the Miami Heat 93-80 and took a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference title series in a game that ultimately was all about the result.
“I think the mental stress and strain we put on some teams with our defense has worked and carried us through the playoffs at times,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said.
Al Horford had 16 points and Derrick White added 14 for the Celtics. Tatum finished with 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Bam Adebayo scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Heat, who shot 32% in the game, after shooting 33% in Boston’s 20-point win in Game 4. Gabe Vincent added 15, Jimmy Butler had 13 and Duncan Robinson scored 11 for Miami.
The Heat were 7 for 45 from 3-point range. They played without the injured Tyler Herro (groin), and several Miami players were questionable entering the day for a variety of ailments.
Still, it was a gane decided in the second half after a 24-2 Boston run that gave to the Celtics an 83-60 advantage.
German big man Daniel Theis didn’t play for Boston and Turkish center Omer Yurtseven had two points for Miami.