NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals Roundup: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics (Part 2)
Game-3: Boston Celtics 97 – Miami Heat 81
Playing at the T.D. Garden in front of a roaring home crowd, the reeling Boston Celtics were finally able to rise to the occasion. Kevin Garnett led from the front as the Boston Celtics dominated the Miami Heat and carved out a
97-81 victory on May 7.
Garnett lifted the C’s with his magnificent double-double in which he scored 28 points and also grabbed 18 rebounds. Boston’s point guard Rajon Rondo, dished out 11 assists including a crucial single handed basket in the final
quarter.
The C’s were quick to put the first points on board and raced to an 18-7 advantage early. Although Miami pulled some points back, the C’s led the Heat by 27-21 in the first quarter. Trailing by six points the Heat made good on
early possessions and trimmed the deficit to just one. They then gained the lead with a Mario Chalmers’ three-point shot late in the frame and took a 46-44 advantage into the locker-room.
The Celtics choked the Heat’s offense in the third quarter and gained a 72-61 advantage at its close. Miami failed to stand in front of the raging C’s in the second half and made errors on both sides of the court. The Celtics went
on to clinch their first win and also jumped back in the best of seven game series.
Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 23 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Game-4: Miami Heat 98 – Boston Celtics 90
LeBron James marshalled the Miami Heat as they overcame the Boston Celtics in a 98-90 overtime victory on May 9, 2011 at Boston.
James scored 35 and clutched 14 rebounds to reach another game winning double-double of his career. Team-mates Wade and Chris Bosh made 28 and 20 points respectively. With this win the Heat took 3-1 lead in the semi-finals of the
2011 playoffs.
The Celtics were in their grove early and grabbed the first quarter with a 31-28 lead. The second quarter also belonged to the C’s as they didn’t allow the tenacious Heat to go ahead.
After a see-saw battle in the third as well, the Heat made an early 8-3 run in the fourth quarter that pushed the scores to 77-76 in their favour. The Celtics nipped their run with swift retaliation and gained a three point lead
(84-81), with a few minutes to go. James put the Heat in front in the last 48 seconds with his layup, but Paul Pierce dished one to push the game into extra time.
The Heat took over the Celtics 12-4 in the extra time and registered yet another win in their account. Pierce led the Celtics with 27 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the loss.
Game-5: Miami Heat 97 – Boston Celtics 87
With the series back in American Airlines Arena, Miami, LeBron James and Dwyane wade finally slayed the demon that had haunted them for long. Wade led the Heat for three quarter, setting up just the perfect scenario for Kings James
to rip the C’s down the stretch. James and Wade starred as the Miami Heat romped to a 97-87 victory and set a date with the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Wade scored 34 points and grasped 10 rebounds while James added 33 points for the Heat.
The Celtics outplayed the Heat in the first quarter with a 24-16 run. The Heat fought hard to cut the deficit down in the second but the Celtics were able to lead Miami 49-47 into the halftime.
The Celtics managed to hold onto the lead in the third quarter as both team scored 25 points in the period. The deadlock ensued till the midpoint of the final quarter till King James decided that he was going to the Finals by winning
this game. James launched a vociferous blitz in the clutch moments of the game as he single-handedly eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs. Ray Allen was the lead scorer from the C’s, scored 18 points, three rebounds and two assists.
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