Orlando (United States) (AFP)

With energy, infused by the essential Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, authors of half of the team's points, Boston beat Miami (121-108) to reduce the gap to 3 to 2 in their Eastern Conference final NBA play-offs.

The Celtics are nonetheless with their backs to the wall, still required to win twice in a row if they want to return to the championship final, which would be their first in ten years and the 22nd in their history marked by 17 titles. , current record.

The hardest part therefore remains to be done, because it is similar to the feat achieved by the Denver Nuggets, who managed to qualify by being led 3-1 against Utah then the Clippers, and must also still try to do so. do as early as Saturday against the Lakers.

But with this success, which took shape in an almost perfect second half both in intention and execution, Boston has clearly turned green in this series and there is no indication that it does not end up turning out to be theirs. advantage.

Because they showed a hell of a character to revive after a first period too inside, where they then lacked a bit of everything, offensive address, defensive intensity, scam more generally.

But in the third quarter, Boston's face was not the same and Miami, who had led a little too quietly by nine points at the break, took a huge green tide (41-25) whose wave the stronger was named Jayson Tatum, author of 17 of his 31 points (10 rebounds, 6 assists).

The young star was not the only one to take his responsibilities, perfectly supported by the one who never gives up, Jaylen Brown (28 pts, 8 rebounds), author of two baskets in quick succession behind the arc very important at the start of the 4th quarter.

Finally in a major five who concentrated 80% of the team's points, the pivot Daniel Theis was omnipresent, putting down a huge job (15 pts, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks) on both sides of the racket, which also allowed the C's to escape a little more to have 19 steps ahead before the money-time.

A sufficient mattress to carry it.

- "Celtics basketball" -

"We played very well in the last two quarters, but we're going to have to play like that over and over again, because we're in a position that requires it. But we like the competition, we want to defend our colors and we care for each other, that's how we stay competitive, "commented Brad Stevens, who had expressed to his players, during a time-out, his pride to see them" finally practice the Celtics basketball ".

That of the Heat, which draws more or less from the same virtues, abnegation, big defense, offensive variety, however, was not really seen.

The energy that usually makes his big nights was lacking, except at Goran Dragic (23 pts) who even had a little too much to spare since he left for six faults, too early in the last quarter.

Jimmy Butler did not weigh (17 pts, 8 assists), shooting strangely little (5/11), when Tyler Herro also seemed underused offensively (14 pts) two days after his heroic evening (37 pts).

And it is little by playing backwards, abusing the award-winning shots that were too little (7/36), that Miami ended up flinching.

"We know how hard it is to win in the play-offs and we didn't play hard enough defensively, especially on the inside, and we paid dearly for it, even though Boston deserves all the credit." , analyzed Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

Fatigue may also be felt.

It is up to him this time to transcend it with his own words, as Stevens managed to revive his Celtics.

Verdict on Sunday during the match N.6.

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