The Boston Celtics cruised to a 118-84 victory over the Miami Heat this Wednesday, ending the series 4-1 and advancing to the next stage of the playoffs. After being knocked out by Miami in the Eastern Conference finals last season, the top-seeded Celtics earned some serious redemption with a dominant, wire-to-wire performance at home in TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown and Derrick White paced the Celtics with 25 points apiece, showing that Boston remained a powerhouse despite Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined. The team came out swinging in the opening quarter, netting 41 points to establish a strong 18-point cushion. That lead grew to 22 by halftime, and Boston continued to pile on the pressure through the third quarter, holding a commanding 98-66 lead going into the final period.
With the game well in hand and Miami struggling with a depleted roster—missing key players like Jimmy Butler and Jaime Jaquez Jr.—coach Joe Mazzulla opted to give his primary players a break in the fourth. Mazzulla later mentioned that the team hadn't let the memory of last year's loss to Miami distract them from the task at hand.
Mazzulla explained that he doesn't dwell on previous seasons, emphasizing instead that he was proud of the team's disciplined and physical approach to this series, regardless of the opponent. He noted that their success came from a commitment to detail and a consistent level of intensity. 'We wake up tomorrow and we’ve got to do it all over again versus another team,' he added, highlighting the need to maintain this momentum.
Boston's next challenge in the Eastern Conference Semifinals will be either the Orlando Magic (5th seed) or the Cleveland Cavaliers (4th seed), with Cleveland currently holding a 3-2 lead in their series. Coming off a five-game victory over the 8th-seeded Heat, the Celtics are riding a wave of confidence. Individual standout performances included White's 25 points (with five triples), Jayson Tatum's all-around game of 16 points and 12 rebounds, Sam Hauser's 17 points from the bench, and 10 points from Jrue Holiday.
Elsewhere in the playoff action on Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks took a 3-2 series lead after a 123-93 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, powered by a 35-point performance from Luka Doncic. It was a historic low for the Clippers, who suffered their worst playoff loss in franchise history. Doncic dominated with 35 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, while Maxi Kleber contributed 15 points off the bench; Kyrie Irving had a quieter outing with 14 points. Following the game, Doncic remarked that the margin of victory is irrelevant—whether it's one point or 50, a win is a win.