The Miami Heat failed again to close out the series in Game 5 away to the Boston Celtics.
After game 5 on May 26, 2023, the Miami Heat's once-secure 3-0 series advantage against the Boston Celtics had shrunk to 3-2.
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals was extended thanks to the Boston Celtics' 110-97 victory against the Miami Heat.
The second-seeded Celtics, who are attempting to become the second No. 8 seed to make it to the NBA Finals, have shown some heart and grit in the last two games against the Heat.
With the necessary intensity, the Celtics took an early lead in the game, taking a 28-13 advantage late in the first quarter and a 61-41 lead late in the second.
Due to an injured left ankle, the Heat were without professional basketball player Gabe Vincent, an American of Nigerian descent.
Miami's starters were outscored 82-35 through three quarters, with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo the only Heat starts to score in double figures.
Marcus Smart scored 23 points and had five steals, while Derrick White scored 24 points, including six three-pointers.
The Heat were led by Duncan Robinson with 18 points, followed by Caleb Martin with 14.
Bam Adebayo had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Jimmy Butler with 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists but sitting out the game's last 10 minutes.
With 21 points each, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown helped the Celtics win their second game in a row and cut Miami's series advantage to 3-2.
It maintains Boston's dreams of becoming the first NBA club to come back from a 3-0 hole to win a series.
In order to avoid traveling back to Boston on Monday for a Game 7, the Heat are now concentrating on Game 6 at Kaseya Center rather than the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets, which begin on June 1.
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