In a dominant performance, Derrick White scored a career-high 38 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 102-88 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 4, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. Jayson Tatum added 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown contributed 17 points and Jrue Holiday chipped in with 11 for the top-seeded Celtics.
Despite losing Kristaps Porzingis to a calf injury in the first half, Boston continued their winning ways on Miami's home court, securing their sixth straight victory at the venue. The Heat, playing without key starters Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, struggled on offense with Bam Adebayo's 25 points not being enough to overcome the Celtics' strong performance.
The Celtics can now advance to the second round with a win in Game 5 in Boston. Looking ahead, the Boston-Miami winner will face off against the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando series in the East semifinals.
While the game was not without its drama, including an injury scare for Tatum, the Celtics maintained control throughout. With a historical track record of success when leading 3-1 in a series, Boston looks poised to close out the series and move on to the next round.
White's stellar performance in the first quarter set the tone for the game, with the Celtics building an early lead that the Heat struggled to overcome. Miami's offensive struggles were evident as they failed to match Boston's scoring output, ultimately falling short in Game 4.
With a comfortable lead and a strong defensive effort, the Celtics were able to limit Miami's scoring opportunities and secure a crucial victory on the road. As they look ahead to Game 5, Boston will aim to continue their winning ways and advance to the next stage of the playoffs.
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