MIAMI — As the Celtics floundered against the Heat in the first half, it was a forgettable first half for both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum looked like his shoulder was bugging him as his jumper was off while Brown finished with four first-half turnovers and plenty of missed shots. While the Celtics were only down by five points at halftime, they were missing production from their two best players.
Tatum and Brown took that personally. Brown didn’t record a turnover in the second half as exploded for 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting, including some huge 3-pointers. Tatum nearly recorded a triple-double as he finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
The Celtics held the Heat to just 38 second-half points; Tatum and Brown combined for 37 points in the second half on 14-for-23 shooting. Miami couldn’t generate quality looks against Boston’s defense, and that was all the C’s needed in their 93-80 victory Wednesday at FTX Arena. It was far from a perfect night from the Celtics’ duo, but the stars stepped up when the team needed them.
“We just got to come out and play basketball,” Brown said. “We feel like there’s not a lot of people who can play basketball with us two. When he gets going, when I get going, we know that we’re going to put ourselves in a good spot to win.”
The C’s will need more of that sparkling production as they look to close out the Heat in six games. While the Celtics took the 3-2 series lead after winning Game 5, they have experience both blowing and coming back from the brink of elimination. It’s why Tatum said they need to have a must-win mindset going into Game 6, which is set for 8:30 p.m. Friday at TD Garden.
It’s been an up-and-down series for both Tatum and Brown, who have each seen their moments in the light and darkness. That was the case Wednesday as they slugged through inefficient play in the first half, only to turn it to pull the Celtics away from the Heat in the second half.
The Celtics are now one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010. The Celtics have been in this position plenty: Tatum is in his third conference finals while Brown is in his fourth. Now, it’s about putting together to get to the grandest stage in the NBA.
“We talked about it,” Tatum said. “We just went into Milwaukee and won a very big Game 6. So know that it’s possible. ... This is a great team, well-coached. They not going to give up. It’s not going to be easy. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a challenge, but it’s going to be fun.”
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