Final: Heat 125, Celtics 113 -- Heat run away in fourth quarter to win series

Bam Adebayo scored a career-high 32 points to lead six different Heat players in double figures as Miami used a 26-6 fourth quarter run to clinch a spot in the NBA Finals and end the C’s season. Boston was in pole position yet again to force a Game 7 after opening the fourth quarter with a 8-2 run but Miami had a counterpunch that the Celtics didn’t have the answer for in crunch time for the fourth time in this series as their offense fell apart down the stretch.

Jaylen Brown had a team-high 26 points for the Celtics while Jayson Tatum added 24 points and a career-high 11 assists but it wasn’t enough for the C’s who fell in love with the 3 ball that let them down in the second half (4-of-23). Meanwhile, Miami’s offense was in rhythm all night, shooting 56 percent from the field, 48 percent from 3.

Miami opens up the NBA Finals on Wednesday night against the Lakers.

TURNING POINT

The Celtics fought from behind all half before putting together a 10-2 run in the closing minutes of the second quarter to erase most of Miami’s early lead and keep them within two points at the half.   

TWO UP

3-point shooting: The Heat are the team known for their shooters but the C’s were red-hot from beyond the arc in the first half, knocking down 11 of their first 23 3-point attempts including four from Marcus Smart.

Jayson Tatum’s passing: The third-year forward struggled with his shot early but has made up for it with his passing, dishing out eight assists in the first half alone, just one shy of his career-high.

TWO DOWN

Enes Kanter: The Heat didn’t let the big man off the hook defensively in Game 6, attacking him with 3-point shooters and in the pick-and-roll during his eight minutes, leaving him with a team-worst -11 despite posting 3 points and 4 rebounds.

Defensive effort: A number of uncontested dunks and layups went to the Heat in the opening 24 minutes, largely a result of late help coverage or miscommunications on switch. For a win or go home game, C’s are playing this one like they want to win it solely with offense

TOP PLAY

JT SLAM pic.twitter.com/orY7iQplP3

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 28, 2020

First Quarter Notes

—Heat have awoken from their 3-point slumber, after missing their first four 3s of the night, they made five straight include a pair of big ones from Andre Iguodala that helped to play Enes Kanter off the court at center

—Another miserable start for Jayson Tatum (0-of-5 FG) from a shooting perspective but he been big with four assists.

—Gordon Hayward knocked down a pair of 3s from the corner, something that could be a big confidence boost moving forward in this game.

--Marcus Smart was not shy with 3s early, as was the rest of the Celic time. 14 of their first 22 shots were from beyond the arc, going 6-of-14 in the first quarter. Good ball movement early with nine assists

—Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo was very aggressive at the start of the game, pushing pressure on the C’s defense.

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• Jayson Tatum is leading the Celtics in points (27.0), rebounds (10.4) and blocks (1.2) in the series against the Heat, while ranking second in assists (5.4) and steals (12) per game.


• The Celtics are averaging 58 points in the paint during their wins over Miami and just 40 in their losses through five games.


• Grant Williams and Brad Wanamaker are the only two bench players that have appeared in every game in this series. Look for the return of potentially more Enes Kanter minutes though in Game 6 as a deterrent for the Heat’s switch-heavy defense, particularly in the first half.