Celtics move closer to Finals

Boston took a 3–2 series lead after winning Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Viewers were disappointed. After the first quarter, Miami led 19–17.

At halftime, the Heat led 42–37. From the third to the second quarter, Boston shot 25%. When contrasted to Miami’s 19 percent, that’s scorching.

The Celtics had nearly as many turnovers (10) in the first half as they had in the whole fourth game (11).

The combined field goal percentage of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was 19 percent, the lowest of any half this season.

The Celtics blew it open in the second half. Ime Udoka’s instruction in the locker room was to “flip the script,” and Boston did just that.

In the third quarter, it outscored Miami 32–16.

The turnovers were halved as a result. Brown’s first half was a complete failure. He finished with six points.

He was responsible for four of the Celtics’ ten turnovers.

Brown was called aside by Udoka at one point and asked if he was surprised that the Heat were reaching out and poking the ball away.

Brown came back in the second half. In the third quarter, he scored six points. In the fourth quarter, he led the team with 13 points.

In the final 12 minutes, he hit five of his six shots, including three of four threes.

“He didn’t turn it over,” Udoka deadpanned when asked what changed for Brown.

Brown added, “The first half was s—-.”

“I threw it out.” In the second half, I came out and played basketball.”

Boston has relied on its NBA-best defense throughout the season. It was what kept it in the game on Wednesday.

The first half was a complete disaster. The Heat scored 26 points in the paint. It scored 16 points on second-chance opportunities.

It also had nine offensive rebounds, giving the Heat an overall advantage of 26–21.

Miami, on the other hand, was only up five points. The Heat’s offence is a complete disaster.

Jimmy Butler has been reduced to a screener and part-time playmaker due to a knee ailment.

“Butler wasn’t out to score,” Udoka explained.

Kyle Lowry doesn’t have a burst. Tyler Herro, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is out with a groin injury.

Bam Adebayo and Gabe Vincent were Miami’s top scorers in Game 5. A total of 45 three-pointers were made by the Heat.

They made a total of seven of them. That isn’t enough against a suffocating Celtics defense.

“With our defense, we placed mental stress and strain on some opponents, and it worked and took us through the playoffs,” Udoka added.

“Having that many bodies to keep throwing at somebody wears [them] down physically and mentally… our defense travels well.”

“Our defense is what continues to win us games,” Brown added. We’ve got to keep our hat on that side of the field.”

Celtics will return home, and the series is expected to conclude on Friday.

Celtics’ prospects of winning Game 3 were shattered by a comedy of errors—24 turnovers! Despite only losing two quarters in the first three games, Boston trailed 2–1.

After advancing to the third round, Nadal will face another first-time opponent in Botic van de Zandschulp.

The 26th seed quit from his second-round encounter against Fabio Fognini after leading by two sets, 6-4 7-6(2) 3-2, when the former world No 9 retired two hours into the match.

By progressing to the next round, the world No. 5 keeps his hopes alive for a record-extending 14th French Open and overall 22nd Grand Slam victory.