The Boston Celtics’ season didn’t finish in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Miami Heat, and now there’s a flicker of hope.

Whether Boston’s 116-99 victory on Tuesday night time was the beginning of a miraculous revival or just a momentary reprieve from what NBA history suggests is still inevitable stays to be decided.

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At the very least, the Celtics’ win made their probabilities of changing into the primary NBA group in 151 tries to beat a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven collection transfer from insurmountable to iffy heading into Game 5 at TD Garden on Thursday.

That’s good for a group that had spent most of this collection wanting nothing just like the one which earned the convention’s second seed.

“We’ve just got to go win another one. That’s all that matters,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart mentioned. “We take it one game at a time. We understand the odds are stacked against us, but we’re a team that believes in us no matter what, and we’ve just got to keep going, and all that matters is the next game.”

CELTICS STAVE OFF ELIMINATION WITH GAME 4 VICTORY OVER HEAT IN EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

So a lot of what made the Celtics one of many league’s high scoring and defensive groups in the course of the common season was eviscerated in three straight losses to Miami to open the collection.

The Heat befuddled Boston in these video games. It took away high scoring threats Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, whereas outshooting a Celtics group that normally has demolished opponents on the 3-point line.

Boston confirmed acumen on each ends in Game 4, rallying throughout a game-changing 18-0 run in the third quarter. Led by Tatum’s 33 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, the Celtics outscored the Heat by 30 factors from past the arc and turned Miami’s 16 turnovers into 27 factors.

It additionally gave the Celtics a blueprint going ahead.

“We’ve still got a long uphill battle to go,” Tatum mentioned.

While the win gave the Celtics somewhat life, the Heat can blame themselves for not ending. The recreation was shut for 3 quarters and Miami still simply must win one of many closing three video games to make it again to the NBA Finals for the primary time since its run in 2020 in the Florida bubble. Denver is ready to play the winner after sweeping the Lakers.

Boston received 3 times on the Heat’s residence ground final 12 months in the East finals. With a win on Thursday, Miami would accomplish the identical feat on Boston’s ground this 12 months.

The Celtics are 4-5 at residence this postseason.

Heat star Jimmy Butler mentioned he isn’t anxious about Boston’s first win giving it momentum heading residence.

“No. If anything, it will build momentum for us knowing that we have to play with a lot more energy,” Butler mentioned. “We’ve got to play like our backs are against the wall. But I think all year long, we’ve been better when we’ve had to do things the hard way.”

INJURY WATCH

The Heat are getting ready for Game 5 with two key gamers on the mend.

Gabe Vincent, who has been a sparkplug via the collection and had 17 factors in Game 4, left the sport in the fourth quarter after turning his left ankle.

Kyle Lowry additionally took an ungainly fall, leaving the situation of Miami’s level guards up in the air.

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“Whenever you ask these guys, they are like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ So we’ll see,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned after Game 4.