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Boston Celtics defender Derrick White (L) scored 22 points successful nan first half of a triumph complete nan Miami Heat connected Monday successful Miami. Photo by C.J. Gunther/EPA-EFE
MIAMI, April 29 (UPI) -- Derrick White could only shingle his caput successful disbelief arsenic he flicked his wrist and many times sank shots for a 38-points effort, fueling a Boston Celtics triumph complete nan Miami Heat connected Monday successful Game 4 of their playoff series.
White made 15 of 26 shots, including 8 3 pointers, and scored 22 successful nan first half of nan 102-88 triumph astatine nan Kaseya Center. The Celtics, who lead nan bid 3-1, are now conscionable 1 triumph from advancing to nan Eastern Conference semifinals.
"I sewage a mates bully looks early and my squad did a awesome occupation of conscionable uncovering maine and empowering maine to enactment aggressive," White, who reached his career-high scoring total, said astatine his postgame news conference.
Celtics defenders persistently pressured Heat shot handlers, deflecting dribbles and forcing turbulent shots. The Celtics, who trailed for conscionable 4 seconds successful nan first quarter, utilized that disruption and White's soft shooting changeable to push their lead to arsenic galore arsenic 28 points. Star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown chipped successful 20 and 17 points, respectively.
"I thought our defense led to our discourtesy and Derrick made immoderate large plays for us," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Center Kristaps Porzingis scored 7 points earlier leaving nan crippled successful nan first half because of a calf injury. He did not return. Mazzulla did not supply an update connected Porzingis astatine his postgame news conference.
The Heat, who again played without injured prima guardant Jimmy Butler and defender Terry Rozier, made conscionable 35.6% of their shots, including an abysmal 18.8% of their 3-pointers successful nan first half. They ne'er recovered from nan sluggish start.
White caught occurrence successful nan first quarter, making 6 of 8 shots en way to 16 points complete nan first 12 minutes. The Celtics utilized a 16-2 tally successful nan first framework to transportation a 34-24 separator into nan second.
Heat shooters stayed cold, missing their adjacent six shots. The Heat besides went connected a frigid agelong of missing 10-consecutive 3-pointers. The Celtics made astir half of their heavy shots done nan first 24 minutes and led 53-36 astatine halftime.
They outscored nan Heat 28-23 successful nan 3rd to transportation an 81-59 lead into nan last frame. The Heat outscored nan Celtics by 8 complete nan last 12 minutes, but their shortage was excessively ample to overcome.
Heat halfway Bam Adebayo totaled 25 points and 17 rebounds successful nan loss. Guards Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin chipped successful 19 and 18 points, respectively, for nan Heat.
Tatum totaled 11 rebounds and 5 assists, successful summation to his 20 points. Celtics defender Jrue Holiday scored 11 points successful nan victory.
The top-seeded Celtics (3-1) will big nan No. 8 Heat (1-3) successful Game 5 astatine 7:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday astatine TD Garden successful Boston. Game 6, if necessary, will beryllium Friday successful Miami.
"This bid is astir toughness and nan adjacent game," Mazzulla said. "We did what we had to do and now we person to do it again."
The victor of nan Celtics-Heat bid will look nan No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers aliases No. 5 Orlando Magic successful nan Eastern Conference semifinals. That bid is tied 2-2, pinch Game 5 scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday successful Cleveland.
