Boston Celtics defeated Miami Heat by 93-80 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals to take a 3-2 lead in the series. The Celtics were in arrears by five points at the halfway break but they were able to turn the tables, courtesy of their talisman, Jaylen Brown.
The visitors were not at their best in the first 24 minutes of the game as they conceded 10 turnovers and also gave up nine offensive rebounds. Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka admitted they were not playing at their best in the first half of the game.
“We weren’t playing our best, in a lot of ways,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. “Sometimes, all it takes is one guy getting back to his average game.”
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown wasn’t at his best as went 2-for-7 from the field and committed four turnovers in the first quarter of play. However, he was able to turn the tables as scored 19 points and committed zero turnovers in the second half. Overall, he went on to top-score with 25 points to help his team win.
“Same player,” Brown said from the first half to the second. “Just had to get settled in. That’s it. As the game wears on, some of that energy, some of that intensity starts to wear off, so the game opens up a little bit. The game opened up for me in the second half.
“I didn’t want to get down. I didn’t want to look into the past, think that this game was over. My team needed me to come out and respond. “First half was s—. Threw it away. [Just] come out, play basketball in the second half.”
On the other hand, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra believes one has to enjoy the journey in order to book a ticket for the NBA finals. The Game 6 will now be a do-or-die affair for them.
“You’ve got to enjoy this,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You do. You know, if you want to break through and punch a ticket to the Finals, you’re going to have to do some ridiculously tough stuff. Getting on to Boston and figuring that out collectively, those are the emotions and the breakthroughs that you have that you remember for the rest of your life. Bring this thing back on the 29th. That’s all we talked about in there.”
The sixth game of the series between these two teams will be played on Friday night.
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