Scary injuries and furious comebacks only add to the bizarre nature of this playoff series. It’s hard to know who will be able to adapt the best.
Point guard Kyle Lowry of the Miami Heat made an immediate impact for his team against Boston on the game’s very first possession.
He picked up a loose ball after a missed shot by the Boston Celtics and drove the court quickly to set up Max Strus for a 3-pointer.
With that, the avalanche began against the Celtics’ normally impregnable defence. In spite of a dramatic comeback by Boston and the emotional in-game returns of certain Celtics players.
Who had appeared to be badly wounded, Miami’s overpowering first quarter on Saturday was enough to secure the victory.
Two Heat stars returned from injury to lead Miami to a 109-103 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jimmy Butler Delivered a Game 6 Masterpiece Right When Everyone Had Left Miami for Dead
We convened an editorial meeting here at CBS Sports after the Boston Celtics won Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals to begin outlining content possibilities related to the elimination of the Miami Heat.
It was beyond me. We just saw the Boston Celtics overcome a 3-2 series deficit to go to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. For what reason were we giving up on the Heat?
No, we weren’t the only ones there. Draymond Green admitted the Warriors would face the Celtics in a game.
On Friday night, Jimmy Butler and company delivered one of the gutsiest victories you’ll ever see, 111-103, to stave off elimination and force Game 7 on Sunday in Miami.
Virtually no one gives the Heat the respect they deserve, but perhaps that will change after what we saw.
Sunday evening is not available for other plans. An all-out hoops battle is expected to ensue in that contest.
And if I’m going to be fighting a basketball battle right now, there aren’t many guys — if any — I’d rather have on my side than Butler, whose feats on Friday can’t be overstated.
Conclusion
Continuing their series dominance, the Boston Celtics dispatched the Miami Heat easily in Game 5 on Thursday night.
Boston won 93-80 behind contributions from Jaylen Brown (25 points, 4 rebounds) and Jayson Tatum (22 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists) to grab a 3-2 series lead and put Miami on the verge of elimination.
