Derrick White scores 38, Celtics top Heat 102-88 to take a 3-1 East playoff series lead
MIAMI (AP) The good news for the Miami Heat is that the Boston Celtics might not be back in South Florida for a few months.
And that’s also the bad news for the Heat.
Boston now has full control of this Eastern Conference series, with Derrick White scoring a career-high 38 points on Monday night and leading the top-seeded Celtics past the eighth-seeded Heat 102-88 to take a 3-1 lead in their opening-round NBA playoff series.
“I made a couple shots early,” said White, who was 15 of 26 from the field and 8 of 15 from 3-point range. “That always helps. Once you make a couple, the basket looks huge.”
The Celtics won at Miami for the sixth straight time and improved to 14-3 in their last 17 games on the Heat's home floor. But it was a costly win, with Kristaps Porzingis going down in the first half with what the team said was a right calf injury. He left the arena in a walking boot, often used as a precaution.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he had not gotten a postgame update on Porzingis' condition.
“I didn't see what happened,” Mazzulla said.
Jayson Tatum added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who got 17 points from Jaylen Brown and 11 from Jrue Holiday.
“We had to keep fighting,” Tatum said, “and play desperate in a way.”
Bam Adebayo finished with 25 points, 17 rebounds and five assists for Miami, which had a sellout crowd - including Lionel Messi - but played again without injured starters Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck). The Heat managed only 84 points in Game 3 and struggled again on offense in Game 4.
Tyler Herro scored 19 points and Caleb Martin had 18 for the eighth-seeded Heat. Miami lost rookie starter Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the second half with leg tightness; he will be evaluated Tuesday.
“Offensively, we struggled again,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We had some decent looks early on, weren't able to knock those down, and Derrick White was very good tonight - obviously. ... He was just very efficient, very good.”
The Celtics can advance to the second round on Wednesday when they host Game 5. The Boston-Miami winner will meet the Cleveland-Orlando winner in the East semifinals; that Cavaliers-Magic series won't end until at least Friday.
“We're going into the lion's den,” Adebayo said. “Everybody knows what's at stake. It's 3-1.”
But the Celtics now have an injury concern, with Porzingis lifting his jersey over his face in exasperation after getting hurt late in the first half.
“Worried,” said Celtics center Al Horford, who started after halftime in Porzingis' place. “Just concerned. ... Definitely concerning for me. He's in good spirits, but we don't know what it's going to be. I'm just hoping that it's nothing serious and he can get back to us quick.”
With 5:04 left, there was some more drama after Tatum tried to shoot a 3-pointer moments after a foul was called. Adebayo defended the dead-ball play, and Tatum rolled his left ankle after Adebayo stepped into his landing area. Referees called a flagrant-1 on Adebayo, and a technical on Horford for reacting.
Tatum remained in the game.
“I'm sure he's fine,” Mazzulla said.
Adebayo didn't want to discuss the explanation he got as to why what he did merited a flagrant-foul designation. “We're just going to move on from that,” he said.
The good news for Boston: History says this series is just about over.
This is the 29th time a Boston team has taken a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series. The Celtics won all 28 of the previous series, including seven times in the NBA Finals and a first-round series against Miami in 2010 - the last games the Heat played before luring LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Florida and forming a superteam around Dwyane Wade.
Miami just couldn't keep up in this one. White had 16 points in the first quarter, when the Celtics built a 34-24 lead. And no matter what the Heat did on defense, the offense couldn't make up any gaps.
Consider: The Celtics had 34 points after 12 minutes, and it took the Heat almost 23 minutes - nearly the entire first half - to hit the 34-point mark. Miami had only 59 points through three quarters, matching a season low set in Game 1 of this series at Boston.
“I know in my heart we have a game that's there,” Spoelstra said. “It's just a matter of the ball going in a few more times, and all of a sudden it ignites.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Kristaps Porzingis vs. Bam Adebayo (Derrick White gains possession) | |||
11:44 | Bam Adebayo shooting foul (Jrue Holiday draws the foul) | |||
11:44 | +1 | Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-0 | |
11:44 | +1 | Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-0 | |
11:27 | +3 | Nikola Jovic makes three point jump shot (Tyler Herro assists) | 2-3 | |
11:08 | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Jaime Jaquez Jr. steals) | |||
11:05 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point running layup | |||
11:02 | Caleb Martin offensive rebound | |||
10:58 | Caleb Martin misses three point jump shot | |||
10:56 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
10:50 | Jrue Holiday misses three point running jump shot | |||
10:47 | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | |||
10:40 | Tyler Herro misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:37 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
10:31 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point turnaround hook shot (Jrue Holiday assists) | 4-3 | |
10:15 | Bam Adebayo misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:15 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
10:02 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 7-3 | |
9:52 | Caleb Martin turnover (bad pass) (Jrue Holiday steals) | |||
9:47 | Jaylen Brown misses two point running finger roll layup | |||
9:45 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
9:41 | +3 | Tyler Herro makes three point running pullup jump shot (Bam Adebayo assists) | 7-6 | |
9:17 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving reverse layup | 9-6 | |
9:04 | +2 | Tyler Herro makes two point driving layup | 9-8 | |
8:49 | Tyler Herro shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
8:49 | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-8 | |
8:49 | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-8 | |
8:41 | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point driving layup (Tyler Herro assists) | 11-10 | |
8:31 | Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot | |||
8:28 | Derrick White offensive rebound | |||
8:24 | +2 | Derrick White makes two point turnaround hook shot | 13-10 | |
8:10 | Caleb Martin misses three point jump shot | |||
8:07 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
8:02 | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | |||
7:59 | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | |||
7:54 | Jayson Tatum personal foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
7:41 | +2 | Tyler Herro makes two point driving layup (Bam Adebayo assists) | 13-12 | |
7:26 | Nikola Jovic shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
7:26 | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-12 | |
7:26 | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-12 | |
7:18 | Nikola Jovic misses three point jump shot | |||
7:16 | Heat offensive rebound | |||
7:16 | Kristaps Porzingis personal foul (Loose ball) (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
7:09 | Nikola Jovic misses three point jump shot | |||
7:05 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
6:55 | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:53 | Nikola Jovic defensive rebound | |||
6:42 | Bam Adebayo misses two point hook shot | |||
6:40 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
6:28 | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | |||
6:24 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:13 | Bam Adebayo turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
6:13 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
5:56 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 18-12 | |
5:37 | Kevin Love misses three point jump shot | |||
5:34 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
5:29 | +2 | Derrick White makes two point running finger roll layup | 20-12 | |
5:13 | +2 | Tyler Herro makes two point driving floating jump shot | 20-14 | |
4:59 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 23-14 | |
4:58 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
4:46 | Tyler Herro turnover (traveling) | |||
4:29 | Haywood Highsmith shooting foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | |||
4:29 | +1 | Jaylen Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-14 | |
4:29 | Jaylen Brown misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:27 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
4:25 | Jaylen Brown turnover (lost ball) (Caleb Martin steals) | |||
4:09 | Bam Adebayo misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:07 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
4:02 | Haywood Highsmith blocks Jaylen Brown's two point running layup | |||
4:01 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
4:00 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point putback layup | 26-14 | |
3:47 | Derrick White blocks Tyler Herro's two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:47 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
3:39 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point running jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 29-14 | |
3:25 | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving reverse layup | 29-16 | |
3:10 | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | |||
3:06 | Payton Pritchard offensive rebound | |||
3:01 | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving layup | |||
2:58 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
2:51 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point pullup jump shot | 29-18 | |
2:33 | Derrick White misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
2:30 | Delon Wright defensive rebound | |||
2:21 | Haywood Highsmith misses three point jump shot | |||
2:20 | Sam Hauser defensive rebound | |||
2:20 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
1:58 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
1:58 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-18 | |
1:58 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-18 | |
1:37 | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (Delon Wright assists) | 31-20 | |
1:21 | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot | 34-20 | |
1:03 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point jump shot (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 34-22 | |
0:39 | Payton Pritchard misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:38 | Payton Pritchard offensive rebound | |||
0:38 | Payton Pritchard misses two point tip layup | |||
0:37 | Delon Wright defensive rebound | |||
0:19 | Jrue Holiday personal foul (Delon Wright draws the foul) | |||
0:10 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tyler Herro assists) | 34-24 | |
0:00 | Jayson Tatum misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:43 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
11:39 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
11:29 | Jayson Tatum misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
11:26 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
11:20 | Bam Adebayo misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:16 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
11:03 | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 37-24 | |
10:44 | Haywood Highsmith misses two point floating jump shot | |||
10:41 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
10:30 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving layup | 39-24 | |
10:14 | Patty Mills misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:13 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
10:02 | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | |||
9:58 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | |||
9:44 | Payton Pritchard personal foul (Patty Mills draws the foul) | |||
9:41 | Tyler Herro turnover (traveling) | |||
9:31 | Delon Wright blocks Jayson Tatum's two point driving layup | |||
9:31 | Heat defensive rebound | |||
9:18 | Delon Wright misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
9:17 | Celtics defensive rebound | |||
9:17 | Bam Adebayo personal foul (Loose ball) (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
9:01 | Derrick White misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
8:59 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
8:52 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:48 | Sam Hauser defensive rebound | |||
8:43 | Jayson Tatum turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
8:34 | +2 | Haywood Highsmith makes two point driving floating jump shot | 39-26 | |
8:34 | Jayson Tatum shooting foul (Haywood Highsmith draws the foul) | |||
8:34 | +1 | Haywood Highsmith makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 39-27 | |
8:21 | Derrick White misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
8:17 | Haywood Highsmith defensive rebound | |||
8:14 | Haywood Highsmith turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
7:49 | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point jump shot | |||
7:47 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
7:41 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point driving floating jump shot | 39-29 | |
7:26 | Haywood Highsmith personal foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | |||
7:15 | Jaylen Brown misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
7:11 | Delon Wright defensive rebound | |||
6:52 | Derrick White blocks Tyler Herro's two point driving layup | |||
6:49 | Delon Wright offensive rebound | |||
6:49 | Heat turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
6:49 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
6:26 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point bank jump shot | 41-29 | |
6:10 | Tyler Herro misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:05 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
5:56 | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving hook shot | |||
5:56 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
5:47 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point driving layup (Duncan Robinson assists) | 41-31 | |
5:40 | Caleb Martin personal foul (Payton Pritchard draws the foul) | |||
5:34 | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:31 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
5:13 | Caleb Martin misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:12 | Celtics defensive rebound | |||
4:50 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point pullup jump shot | 44-31 | |
4:36 | Duncan Robinson misses three point jump shot | |||
4:34 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
4:18 | Payton Pritchard turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
4:04 | Tyler Herro turnover (bad pass) (Al Horford steals) | |||
3:58 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point running pullup jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 47-31 | |
3:57 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
3:41 | Bam Adebayo misses two point jump shot | |||
3:38 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
3:16 | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | |||
3:13 | Haywood Highsmith defensive rebound | |||
3:05 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
3:04 | Celtics defensive rebound | |||
2:57 | Caleb Martin personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | |||
2:57 | Al Horford offensive foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
2:57 | Al Horford turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:44 | Haywood Highsmith misses three point jump shot |