“Jayson Tatum Shines as Boston Celtics Overcome Miami Heat in Eastern Conference Finals Game 4”

The Miami Heat had a knife and cheese in hand to get the sweep. After opening 3-0 in the series against the Boston Celtics, the Florida team received the rival at the Kaseya Center under the highest expectations. All went well until the third quarter. It was from then on that Jayson Tatum and company began to impose themselves until they overcame Jimmy Butler’s team for the first time in this playoff. With the victory by 116 to 99 this Tuesday, the Celtics are still alive in the final of the Eastern Conference.

With tonight’s triumph, the Celtics also prevented a 66-year-old taboo from being broken. It was in the distant 1957 that Boston Celtics and St. Louis Hawks (today Atlanta Hawks) managed to qualify for the NBA Finals without the opponent winning any game in the series.

With 33 points and 11 rebounds, Jayson Tatum was the great individual highlight of this Tuesday’s match. Jaylen Brown (17 points), Derrick White (16 points) and Grant Williams (14 points) were the luxury supporting players in the Celtics’ victory. For Miami, Jimmy Butler scored 29 points. Other important figures were Gabe Vincent, with 17, and Caleb Martin, with 16.

The Celtics started better, opening 8 to 3. At three minutes, Tatum won a rebound and made it 12 to 8 for the visitors. Boston’s lead, however, was short-lived. At five, Jimmy Butler equalized at 12 to 12. The turn came at seven in a ball of three by Vincent: 18 to 15. The bid motivated Miami, which soon jumped to 22 to 15. At 10, Martin hit another triple ball , expanding to 29 to 20. The Celtics still tried a reaction, but ended the quarter losing by 29 to 23.

The second quarter came, and the panorama of the game followed the same. Managing the result well, the Heat jumped to 33 to 26 in less than three minutes. Betting on Al Horford’s three balls, Boston reduced to 34 to 32 after four minutes. Seconds later, Tatum and Williams put the Celtics back in front: 37 to 34.

The game was very disputed for the next few minutes and, at seven, Martin put Miami back in front – 43 to 42 – by hitting a three-ball. At nine, Lowry made a beautiful defensive move and launched Martin, who ran alone to score 47 to 44. A minute later it was Adebayo’s turn to make it 54 to 49. With no possibility of seeking a new reaction before the break, Boston went to the locker room with six points of disadvantage – 56 to 50.

The Heat returned to the second quarter willing to define the game as soon as possible. So much so that the score was 61 to 52 in two minutes. However, Boston woke up in the following minutes, starting an overwhelming sequence of points, which culminated in a new comeback. When the Celtics went 68-61 on a basket by Smart, coach Erik Spoelstra stopped the game.

Even with the stoppage, the Celtics continued to improve and, at eight, Tatum scored 78 to 69. A minute later, it was Williams’ turn to hit a three-pointer and leave the visitors 10 points ahead: 81 to 71. As a result, Boston ended the quarter winning 88-79.

Pushed by their fans, Miami cut the difference to five at the beginning of the last quarter – 88 to 83. It was the password for Boston to wake up and, at four, Smart made it 94 to 83. At five, Tatum hit the ball with three, and the Celtics opened 14 points ahead: 97 to 83. The Heat felt it and started to be dominated. With Tatum getting better in the game, the visiting team opened 107 to 90 with three minutes to go. With no strength to react, it was up to Miami to try to avoid a worse defeat in the final minutes. Better for the Celtics, who confirmed the victory by 116 to 99.

(8) Miami Heat 3 x 1 Boston Celtics (2)