Fourth-quarter rut prices shorthanded C’s
Celtics-Heat takeaways: Fourth-quarter rut costs shorthanded C’s initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The shorthanded Boston Celtics could not shut out the Miami Heat as they wrapped up their highway journey with a deflating loss.
Jaylen Brown (proper adductor damage administration), Marcus Smart (proper ankle sprain), Malcolm Brogdon (private causes), and Al Horford (low again stiffness) had been unavailable for Tuesday’s matchup at Miami-Dade Enviornment. Miami additionally was shorthanded with Jimmy Butler (decrease again tightness) out.
The C’s led by as many as 14 regardless of the absences of these key gamers. That was earlier than Miami went on a 15-0 fourth-quarter run and stored Boston out of the scoring column for six-plus minutes. The outcome: a 98-95 Warmth victory.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum had a game-high 31 factors, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists within the defeat. Derrick White stepped up because the secondary scorer Boston wanted with Brown out as he tallied 23 factors.
Bam Adebayo took over within the fourth quarter and completed with 30 factors and 15 boards. Haywood Highsmith additionally did his half in Butler’s absence with 15 factors off the bench.
The Celtics will return dwelling to tackle the New York Knicks on Thursday night time. Listed below are our takeaways from the C’s second straight loss, which brings them to 35-14 on the season.
No circulate within the fourth
The Celtics had been on the cusp of a formidable shorthanded triumph, then Miami threw a zone protection at them within the fourth quarter. That proved to be an excessive amount of for Boston to deal with.
From that time, the Warmth went on a 15-0 run and stored the C’s scoreless for greater than six minutes. Boston completed with solely 13 factors within the quarter.
Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla hasn’t been a fan of timeouts, however this was an instance of a time by which he in all probability ought to have referred to as one. With 20 seconds left within the sport and the C’s down two, Mazzulla elected to play it out. It did not work within the C’s favor as Tatum walked the ball up the courtroom and turned the ball over to successfully put the nail within the coffin.
The whole quarter was a nightmare on each ends of the ground for Boston. There was no determining Miami’s zone, and there was no stopping Warmth large man Bam Adebayo. These elements — and the one under — had been the distinction between a hard-fought win and a devastating loss.
Turnovers turning into a troubling development
The sport ended on a Jayson Tatum turnover, and it was a becoming ending for a Celtics workforce that has struggled with caring for the basketball recently. After turning it over 18 instances in Monday’s loss to the Orlando Magic, that they had 17 turnovers within the loss to Miami.
Tatum did his ordinary harm within the scoring column — particularly within the first half when he dropped 21 factors — however his turnovers proved expensive. He had a game-high seven on the night time along with his final one being the largest blunder.
The Celtics additionally had 15 turnovers in Toronto and 17 towards Golden State. They escaped each video games with victories, however the greater turnover totals are one thing to observe going ahead. They’re going to look to treatment the problem after they return dwelling on Thursday.
So as to add insult to damage, the Warmth social workforce trolled the C’s for his or her turnover woes after the sport, referencing the infamous Dallas Cowboys tweet after their Divisional Spherical loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Derrick White steps up as secondary possibility
With 4 key Celtics gamers out together with Jaylen Brown, Tatum wanted a wingman. Derrick White rose to the event.
White dropped 23 factors for his highest scoring whole since Nov. 18 vs. the Charlotte Hornets, when he had 26. He additionally made an influence as a distributor with six assists to make up for Sensible’s continued absence. He did so regardless of early foul bother, which restricted him to solely 12 first-half minutes.
Sadly, White ran out of gasoline within the fourth quarter together with the remainder of the C’s lineup on the second night time of a back-to-back. Whereas the ending wasn’t ultimate, it nonetheless was a powerful displaying for a participant who has stepped up time and time once more for Boston when referred to as upon to tackle an elevated position.