BOSTON (AP) — If this playoff run is about redemption for the Boston Celtics, it had to start with exacting some revenge against the Miami Heat. A year ago…
If this playoff run is about redemption for the Boston Celtics, it had to start with exacting some revenge against the Miami Heat.
A year ago, Miami embarrassed Boston in a Game 7 showdown at TD Garden.
This time, the Celtics returned the favor.
Jaylen Brown and Derrick White each scored 25 points and the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, beating the short-handed Heat 118-84 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Boston will face the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando series. The Cavaliers lead 3-2, with Game 6 in Orlando on Friday night.
Brown said they went into the game with a business-like approach.
“It is a lot of history, back and forth. But it didn’t matter who it was,” Brown said. “We just had to get the job done.”
That was echoed by teammate Jayson Tatum.
“I think this is my fourth time playing them in playoffs,” Tatum said. “They all count the same. … We did our job. We took care of business.”
Brown also had six assists, and White hit five 3-pointers. Sam Hauser added 17 points and Tatum had 16 points and 12 rebounds, The top-seeded Celtics never trailed and led by 35 points.
