Celtics Improbable Run Towards History Continues

Boston, down 3-0 to the Heat, win their second straight and are now halfway to doing what no team has done - rally to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games.

BOSTON — Moments into the Boston-Miami Game 5 matchup, Marcus Smart was on the parquet floor diving for a loose ball.

He came up with it to force the turnover, and moments later an easy bucket for Jayson Tatum.

The shooting splits say that Boston’s offense was instrumental in their 110-97 win over Miami which keeps their season alive for at least one more game.

But this game was won by their defense; a defense that looked eerily similar to the defense that propelled them so many times last season in the playoffs.

And it is that defense that will have to continue to shine if they are to do what no team in NBA history has done - rally to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games.

The Celtics forced 16 turnovers for the game which led to 27 points.

Smart’s play in the opening minutes would be the catalyst to a 15-5 run that was just the beginning of Boston’s wire-to-wire victory.

And while the players certainly deserve a lot of credit for the win, head coach Joe Mazzulla played an integral part in Game 5 as well.

Mazzulla looking as energized and fiery as we’ve seen him this season on the sideline, barking out instructions, never standing still for more than a few seconds at a time.

Of course, the Heat were playing without Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) who has averaged 17.5 points per game in the series.

But the kind of prosperity that comes with facing a short-handed opponent, has not been a good thing for the Celtics this season.

In the regular season, Boston lost 10 games to teams who were missing one of their top two scorers.

And in the playoffs, Boston lost to the Atlanta Hawks when they were without Dejounte Murray (suspension), and later to the Philadelphia 76ers who played Game 1 of their second-round series against Boston without league MVP Joel Embiid.

So no one was taking Game 5 as an easy win for Boston.

But just like the Celtics are on a journey that has the potential to be historic in nature, the sense of urgency needed to be successful seems to have finally kicked in.

But with Game 6 in Miami, Boston will once again be challenged to keep their season alive against one of the better teams at home in the playoffs.

The Celtics have shown a level of resiliency the last two games, with their season on the line.

And they have done so by playing less-than-perfect basketball.

But their strong play, especially defensively, has proven to be the perfect storm to set the stage for yet another must-win game this weekend.