Boston Celtics remain alive in Eastern Conference finals after beating Miami Heat

MIAMI — Former Marlins GM/Yankees legend Derek Jeter, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and PGA champion, Jupiter’s Brooks Koepka, were in the front row at Kaseya Center Tuesday night.

They were expecting an Eastern Conference title celebration for the Heat — as was the rest of South Florida.

The Celtics didn’t follow the script of a historic Miami sweep.

Behind a monstrous 18-0 third-quarter green avalanche, the Celtics showed life in a 116-99 triumph and have forced a Game 5 Thursday at Boston’s TD North Garden with Miami still in control at 3-1.

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“They got us tonight,’’ Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Let’s not question that. That’s what they’ve been doing all season long.’’

Struggling all series, Jayson Tatum awoke just in time, scoring 33 points — 25 in the second half — to hand Miami its first home loss of the playoffs.

“Our energy was low — which we cannot have," said Jimmy Butler, who finished with 29 points and did his part. “We’ll be OK, knowing we’re going to win and we will. If anything, this will be more motivation for us."

Boston put together a spellbinding 18-0 run in the third quarter that put the Celtics up 70-61 as Tatum shook off an awful first half. Miami sputtered during the surge with four turnovers and 0-for-4 shooting.

The Heat had an uncharacteristic 10 turnovers in the second half. The Celtics outpaced the Heat from the 3-point line, turning the tables. The Heat shot 25% from 3 to the Celtics’ 42.2%. Miami had entered Game 4 with the third-best 3-point shooting clip in conference finals history at 48%.

Miami is vying for its second Eastern title in four years. The Heat, after a regular season of irrelevancy, are one win away from being only the second eighth seed to advance to the Finals in NBA history.

Nikola Jokic’s mighty Denver Nuggets, who swept the Lakers on Monday, are resting and awaiting the winner.

“They came into this game more desperate," Miami center Bam Abedayo said. ”Now we got to finish business in Boston."

There were white towels draped on every seat at Kaseya Center with the caption: “Beat Milwaukee, New York, Boston.” Milwaukee and New York had a line crossed through. The line through Boston is on hold.

Here are three takeaways:

You can’t keep a superstar down every game.

Incredibly, Tatum hadn’t scored a field goal in the fourth quarter of the first three games.

Then he committed four turnovers Tuesday in the first half — offensive fouls, passes getting knocked away — before exploding. Tatum scored 14 in the 38-23 third quarter.

“Great scorers are going to figure it out at some point," Spoelstra said. “You don’t expect a player like Tatum to have multiple off nights."Tatum was honest afterward about Boston's play in the first three games of the series."We didn't play well the first three games, we didn't deserve to win, but we didn't want that to define us, define the season," Tatum said. "We've still got a long uphill battle to go. But tonight was a good start."

Dangerous in transition and from the 3-point line, the Celtics superstar finished 14-of-22 from the field — 5-of-9 from 3. He also had 11 rebounds and seven assists.

“He just hot," Adebayo said. “He’s one of the toughest players in this league."

Bam and Kyle don’t deliver

While the Heat’s undrafted role players, Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin, combined for 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting, high draft picks Adebayo and point guard Kyle Lowry had rough nights.

In 35 minutes, Adebayo had 10 points and five rebounds — a team-worst minus 21. He also missed two straight free throws during the second-half meltdown.

“I got to do better," Adebayo said. “We’ve always said the last game to get is the hardest one to get."

Lowry and Adebayo hooked up for one brilliant play during the shiny first half off a pick-and-roll. Lowry floated an alley-oop lob that Adebayo slammed home. But that was the lone highlight as Lowry really struggled shooting.

While Lowry notched six assists, he shot 1-of-5 from 3 — 2-of-8 overall. Many scouts believe Lowry’s electric play with the second unit has been key to this magical run.

If Duncan doesn’t shine, will Herro become a Finals participant?

Assuming the Heat advance to the Finals that don’t begin until June 1, is Tyler Herro ever going to join the fray after breaking his hand in the first-round Milwaukee series?

The Heat gave a vague medical update and it still seems iffy, though Spoelstra won’t rule it out. Miami has been going so well because 3-point sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, spotty all season, suddenly came alive in the ECF.

Miami’s defense has also been better without Herro — until Tuesday when Boston killed the Heat in transition (18 points).

Robinson regressed in Game 4. He was 0-for-4 from 3-point range — 1 of 5 overall. If Robinson isn't knocking down 3s, there’s no reason for him to be on the floor.

As for Herro’s potential Finals availability, Spoelstra said: “Yes, he is starting the process. So there's no timetable. But he does have the brace off and he's able to do ball handling and some shooting."

Thursday's game

Eastern Conference Finals (Heat lead 3-1)

Heat at Celtics

8:30 p.m., TNT

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boston Celtics defeat Miami Heat in NBA Eastern Conference finals