Rookie Tyler Herro led Miami to a 3-1 series lead over Boston with a 112-109 victory in Game 4.
In Game 3, the rookie had exploded for 18 first-half points, including a series of 3s that kept the Miami Heat’s offense ticking. He was averaging 14.8 points, 4.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds in the playoffs, giving Miami extra playmaking beyond what Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo provided. But, in Game 4, he simply was the best player on the court and had the game of his life.
Herro poured in 37 points off the bench against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday giving the Miami Heat a 3-1 lead in the series. Herro did it in ridiculously efficient fashion: 14-for-21 shooting, including 5-for-10 from deep.
“I feel good about it. There’s a lot of work to be done still. We’re up 3-1.”
Herro became just the second 20-year-old in NBA playoff history to score at least 37 points in a game. The other: Magic Johnson, who had 42 in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Miami had a 12-point lead in the 3rd quarter largely because of a good defense, which took the Celtics completely out of rhythm. Boston star Jayson Tatum didn’t score a single point in the first half, and the Heat’s 2-3 zone once again proved disruptive.
Goran Dragic added 22 and Bam Adebayo had 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Jayson Tatum scored all 28 of his points in the second half for the Celtics. They nullified a double-digit deficit to take a one-point lead in the final quarter but saw the Heat run away again. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, Kemba Walker added 20, Gordon Hayward had 14 and Marcus Smart finished with 10 points and 11 assists.
The Celtics had a chance right down to the end, but couldn’t overcome their 19 turnovers, to the Heat’s eight.
Tyler Herro dropping all these buckets at 20 years old 😳 pic.twitter.com/S17Jxfu7TG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 24, 2020
This is the 12th time Miami has taken a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series. The Heat won each of the previous 11.
“Herro’s shotmaking tonight was the difference in the game. Herro was ridiculously good tonight. The rim must have looked like the ocean to him”, Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.
Miami Heat have won three NBA championships (2006, 2012, and 2013) and are now within one game from reaching the NBA Finals after a long gap. The winner of this match-up will face either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers, where the 16-time champions are leading 2-1 in the Western Conference final.
Miami Heat will be looking to close out the series on Friday night.
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