Jayson Tatum scored 28 points in the final 18 minutes of Game 4 but it was too little too late in a sluggish effort for the All-Star (six turnovers) and the Celtics. Tyler Herro erupted off the bench with a game-high 37 points to lead four Heat players with 20+ points as Miami held off a late Celtics push for a 112-109 win.
The Celtics scored 65 points in the second half as they fought back from a 12-point deficit behind Tatum’s hot shooting but it was not enough to overcome Herro’s offense from all over the floor as he got the best of Kemba Walker and company all night. Boston’s small-ball five lineup failed to get stops down the stretch and the C’s were far too careless with the ball (19 turnovers) throughout Game 4, sloppiness that came back to bite down the stretch.
The win gives the Heat a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-fo-seven series with Game 5 coming up on Friday night.
THIRD QUARTER NOTES
—C’s appeared to be on the verge of a blowout several times in the third quarter as Miami pushed out the lead to 12 and missed multiple chances to extend it.
—C’s remained within striking distance however and Jayson Tatum got loose with his first make midway through the quarter.
—He ended up catching fire from there, scoring 16 points in the final 6:48 as the C’s cut the deficit all the way down to 1
—The biggest key for Boston offensively was starting to get good ball movement going against the zone, with the C’s knocking down 3s from several players in the corner and at the top of the key.
—The C’s may have even had the lead if not for their excessive fouling as they managed to get 11 free throws after the C’s got into the penalty early.
SECOND QUARTER NOTES
—Another sloppy quarter from both teams as Celtics and Heat head into halftime shooting 43 percent or under.
—Jayson Tatum was the biggest weak spot for the C’s (0 points, 0/6 FG, 3 turnovers) as he’s looked flat with his effort on both ends all night.
—Jaylen Brown has 10 points but has been out of control on several takes into the paint, which has produced four of Boston’s 11 turnovers.
—Tyler Herro has emerged as a problem against off the bench for Miami (team-high 15 points, 6 rebounds). Erik Spoelstra has really shrunk his rotation down to seven guys essentially, with Olynyk, Jones Jr. and Nunn not getting off the bench.
—Both teams really struggling from 3-point range (25 percent both ways). C’s have trouble with Miami’s 2-3 zone as well.
FIRST QUARTER NOTES
—Heat coming out early with sharp ball movement, with four assists on their first five makes
—Miami doing a better job keeping Adebayo near the rim by having other guys switch onto Theis away from the ball
—Jaylen Brown with a couple nice makes early but picked up two quick fouls on the same Miami possession
—Jimmy Butler looking a lot more aggressive early in this one, with 6 points in first six minutes as Miami used a 7-0 run to take a five-point lead and force an early Brad Stevens timeout.
—Kemba Walker has the hot hand early for Boston with nine points in the opening eight minutes.
—Brad Stevens goes with Rob Williams at center for the first time since Game 1 midway through the first quarter with Bam Adebayo getting an early rest and the Heat going small at center. Williams going big is putting pressure on Heat’s interior defense in the pick-and-roll without Adebayo.
—Rough first quarter for Jayson Tatum who went 0/5 from the field with two turnovers. Gordon Hayward also was off with two open 3s by a large margin.
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Jaylen Brown
C: Daniel Theis
G: Duncan Robinson
PF: Jae Crowder
C: Bam Adebayo
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- BETUS.com Celtics-Heat Game 4 Betting Odds, Preview & Prediction
- Celtics-Heat Notebook: Marcus Smart thinks post Game 2 arguments brought C's closer, Heat explore strategy shifts
- Robyn Hayward announced the arrival of Gordon Theo Hayward on Wednesday evening in an afternoon post.
