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00:00Dave Pasch back with Doris Burke a lot of people think now the Celtics are the
00:03team to beat in the East with a return of Jason Tatum that first half is a big
00:07reason why people think that and it starts with Jalen Brown I mean the tone
00:11he set the first quarter when they exploded for over 50 points his ability
00:16to touch paint and then use physicality to me Dave it's the growth of the game
00:21yes he's a much more dangerous three-point shooter but it's the
00:24processing speed it's the understanding of okay I'm gonna just give you a little
00:29bit of shot I'm gonna get to my jump shot with that step back whatever the
00:34game requires he's willing to meet it so the fifth half this season with 80 plus
00:42points for Boston you saw that graphic hitting 14 threes tying the most in a
00:47half they had 11 in the first quarter and had those 14 with about five minutes to
00:52go in the second quarter and didn't make another one so they go in the lane to
00:55start the third and have a chance at an old-fashioned three after just two free
01:00throw attempts in that first half wait Hauser like he's made every right
01:06decision remember in the first quarter he had to they ran him off the three-point
01:10line nice efficient one dribble into the mid-range now he knows it's Hauser I mean
01:15it's hero checking me he's trailing the whole way he just made the right rim read and a
01:22rare miss free throw for Hauser who's an 89% shooter he's got 19 points had 17 in
01:28the first quarter
01:30Pella Larson on the spot up spins out on the three rebound pinballs Takeda Boston
01:37at 50 wins on the season the fifth straight year
01:41as Takeda gets the slam great find by Bryan it's the first time the Celtics have won 50
01:47plus in five consecutive seasons since the Larry Bird led Celtics from 1984 to 1988
01:54Takeda got the block but a foul
02:00it's on Hauser just talking about his processing speed like he's he's playing with a quick mind
02:09right he's under duress of two different defenders and he's just just calmly like okay where are my
02:16options there's two on me I've created the advantage my team was looking for now where can I go next
02:21you
02:22think about when he was a cow he used to get his offense by he just bigger and
02:26stronger and everybody just put his head down and dry early on in the NBA got sped
02:30up easily but he is going at a pace and getting to wherever spot he wants on the
02:35floor now it's a big reason why he's an MVP candidate and I think everybody
02:40rightly Dave came back with the idea okay when Tatum comes back that's a reset on
02:45that relationship the much-discussed relationship give these two young men
02:48credit they just keep putting that story line to bed
02:55Tatum has four assists to go with 13 points and 12 rebounds Derek White took
03:00just two shots in that first half he missed a three there but I do think
03:04that's the kind of shot he's gonna get of all the guys whose shot profile will
03:09change with Tatum's return to me it's Derek White three is good for Wiggins and you'd eat a lot of
03:16those to climb back into the
03:18this but this is a heat organization with pride and they will keep playing they
03:23don't have Norman Powell he is out for the third straight game due to illness he is
03:27their leading scorer on the season 22 points per game hero is close to that at
03:3321 and a half but obviously played fewer games Tatum with three to shoot fires a
03:40three offensive rebound miss the putback but he'll go to the line Wiggins on the
03:46region you and I were just talking before we started the second half about the
03:54minutes that Kata has given Boston this year and how that could translate to
03:58playoff success yeah listen I I thought it was interesting down the stretch of the
04:04Oklahoma City game that Tatum was at the five and I do think if you remember their
04:10championship season how often Jason Tatum was put in a position to have to guard up he
04:17was physically and mentally up for the challenge Tatum what Kata and Garza have
04:22done at the five spot for Joe Mazzu is a tribute to everybody the organization for the
04:26growth of these players for Kata's commitment you know he averages what
04:32about 24 minutes would that go to 21 depending on how often Tatum closes at the
04:38five I just think the reason everybody thinks the Celtics are dangerous is you
04:42have two now elite guys the wings you have them when you want the
04:46championship the role players roles are defined everybody knows you know what
04:50their contributions are as hero gets another three Derek white remains elite
05:00defensively I think what's the most amazing thing about this team is you
05:06you're without Jason Tatum for the first 62 games you make a couple of
05:10midseason moves after losing four key guys off a championship team they bring in
05:16Nikola Vucevic who's only played 12 games they're expecting to get him back
05:19before the playoffs start that was a key move for them in the offseason yet whether
05:24Pritchard starts it comes off the bench Tatum sets or plays it just doesn't seem
05:28to matter the Celtics just roll right along and here's the thing you know I don't
05:34know what the perception is out there it felt to me like in Joe Mazzu's first year
05:39of the championship year that oh well you inherited a great team indeed indeed you
05:45still have to coach that team still got to beat the opponents in front of you and
05:49ain't nobody questioning Joe Mazzu's coaching jobs after this season not a soul
05:54got a chance to win coach of the year would be the first Celtic since Bill Fitch in
05:591980 this guy right now the best granted it's only four years but still 72 percent win
06:06percent is the best in history as Brown is up to 25 points now in the ninth you think
06:14about his first year they're playing Miami in the conference finals they get down 3-0
06:19that game three was actually the last time Boston's lost here won nine in a row since
06:24they won two games that series forced a game seven back in Boston lost a lot of people were
06:29questioning Joe Mazzu but the very next year to win the championship and all that chatter stuff
06:38Mitchell driving out to Larson Wiggins left alone three is good that's their offense right there this is the new
06:49system incorporated there wasn't a single on ball screen
06:53it was individual can I get past can I get an advantage can I make the next play
06:59Mitchell rips it away from Brown out of bounds will stay with Boston
07:02I mean you watch NBA nightly you're accustomed to seeing two-man action that is not who the heat are
07:07Eric Spolstra consults with Noah LaRoche and they changed their whole system that is it in a nutshell you're spaced
07:17it's five out create an advantage and then get a shot
07:20Brown rises up trains a three-pointer 29 for Jalen Brown
07:29one point away from his 34th 30-point game in 67 play out of bio back to the line where
07:37he's two for six
07:40okay I mean let's just look at Jalen Brown make this three from the corner folks Nick
07:46uh Nimi Keita just trying to make that path that route for the defender a little harder but Jalen this
07:53is just beautiful
07:55I mean
07:57one-legged
07:58three-point jumper stop it now you're hurting him
08:03out of bio gets the free throw he's got 18 points and 10 rebounds his 30-second double-double
08:10Jalen Brown's got 29 and this felt easy
08:17in the first quarter he came out in attack mode he scored the first 11 points for Boston
08:24and was able to get deep into the paint every time and we'd see hanging finish we'd see a decelerate
08:31and then speed up quickly reverse layup
08:33and now we see a three-pointer
08:38Brown draws the contact out the basket and one and then he screams
08:43to the crowd
08:4531 points for Jalen Brown in 21 minutes
08:49this is only his fifth free throw he hasn't needed it tonight
08:53but again you can attack Tyler Hero they're gonna go at him on every possession
08:58you were talking about the diesel move he's deep in his bag tonight
09:02I just think about the free throws this guy has taken over his last four games
09:07this is number five but 14 14 and 11
09:12that gives you some sense of the kind of aggression he's playing with
09:17he scored the last eight he does have a 50-point game this year
09:22and five others where he scored 40 plus
09:26out of bio
09:28Wow
09:28Kata got a piece of that and out of bio still have the strength to get it up and score
09:32did he lose
09:33did he lose control of it there for a second
09:35looked like Kata got a hand on
09:40a 24-point lead for Boston almost at a hundred points already
09:47here's Brown again doubled throws it up
09:52was hoping to get a call and did not
09:57really his first wild shot of the night
09:59Larson three is good
10:03he's hit a couple now here in the second half
10:10Miami doesn't come back the Heat will be in the tenth spot
10:12they were in the tenth spot last year and won two games and made it out of the play
10:16in
10:19Brown drives through the lane
10:20hands for Kater shot clock down to three
10:23Kater puts up the air ball
10:34Celtics with six games left after tonight
10:37pretty much locked into that two spot in the east
10:39they were the two seed last year
10:42after sixty-one wins
10:47Mitchell
10:48buries a three
10:48opening it appear those
10:50Joe Mazzula right away has seen enough
10:53a deficit inside of twenty
10:55will be back on the other side
11:01we are the two
11:09three
11:10that's
11:10brought to you by Xfinity
11:12let's focus on what we can control
11:14we've got to win those closeouts that we can
11:16all right you're going to have to chip away offensively we can't afford bad possessions
11:23Eric Spolstra in the heat huddle, and they have chipped away.
11:26They've made five of six threes here in the quarter and back within 18,
11:29which really in today's NBA is nothing with this much time left.
11:33Three-point shot is the great equalizer.
11:35You can make four, and all of a sudden this feels like a different game.
11:43You're 18 for Eric Spolstra, 31st with the organization,
11:48longest tenured active head coach in the league.
11:50Head coach now of USA Basketball.
11:54We were talking with him before the game about the reports of his good friend
12:00and assistant on Team USA and Gonzaga head coach Mark Few getting into the Hall of Fame.
12:05He and Mark Few go back 35 years.
12:07Eric Spolstra was playing at Portland, and Few was a grad assistant at Gonzaga.
12:11He's very happy for Mark Few, a guy that Spolstra says he has nicknamed Yoda
12:16for all the lessons he's learned over the years from Few.
12:18Anybody who knows Mark Few, despite sustained success
12:22and an appropriate induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame,
12:26the guy's never changed through all the success.
12:30And, you know, he's one of those guys coaches just say he's a coach's coach.
12:34I remember covering him at college and saying he had multiple offers to go to big spots,
12:39and he'd be like, no, Gonzaga suits me just fine.
12:43He's a guy that has the demeanor to coach at this level.
12:47Yes.
12:48But chose to stay at Gonzaga's.
12:49Tatum gets at the ball.
12:50He's got 17 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.
12:55He, too, has made the game look easy.
13:00Oh, is that a double?
13:01Yes.
13:02That is a double dribble, a turnover.
13:04Heroes saying it got deflected by Boston.
13:07In fact, all the Heat players are saying that, but it's on to the official saw it.
13:11So let's go back to Tatum.
13:12He's working on Andrew Wiggins, uses that right arm, just gets his balance right into the jump shot.
13:18Nice, soft touch.
13:19I mean, just, you know, I read his comments when he first came back.
13:22He's like, I felt like I had to be perfect.
13:24I wanted to be first team, Jason.
13:26Like, you did not play for a full year.
13:28It will take a little bit of time.
13:30And that's all it took was a little bit of time because he's playing like that now
13:34as Jalen Brown is up to 34 and another assist for Tatum.
13:42Actually, did not give it an assist there to Tatum.
13:47Lead back to 22, 99 points for Boston, 80 at halftime, 53 in the first.
13:55They do now give the assist to Tatum a sixth.
13:57I was wondering why not.
13:58I mean, the move was spectacular, but he didn't deck it at all.
14:01One little hand to pass, one dribble, which still counts as an assist.
14:05And look at that spin to the fade.
14:09He's given you a little bit of everything in his arsenal.
14:1213 of 20 from the floor for Tatum.
14:15Or for Brown, rather, 34 points.
14:17Tatum was 17.
14:18He's got seven double-doubles.
14:20Look at how he's almost at the top of the Celtics list already.
14:24And closing in on maybe a triple-double tonight.
14:28Jalen Brown has three triple-doubles this year.
14:31Good defense by Mitchell.
14:34Brown on the step-through, got caught in the air, and it hits again.
14:3836 for Jalen Brown.
14:40John Bawson already in triple digits.
14:43Come on, this is absolute.
14:44Folks, Davion Mitchell.
14:46Walls him up.
14:47Stomps him on the first one.
14:48Is in decent body position on the second one.
14:51But when you got it going like Jalen Brown's got it going, it don't matter, Davion.
14:55John, this thing's still going down.
14:59There is Billboard Magazine's top East Coast Arena in the premiere destination for live entertainment.
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15:32Tickets from all of these shows and more.
15:37Game 2 of our NBA Wednesday doubleheader, Victor Wembenyama and the Red Hot Spurs looking for their 10th straight win
15:44as they face the Golden State Warriors.
15:48When March tipped off doors, you and I were in San Antonio and felt like, with about 20 games left,
15:53that Victor Wembenyama had a chance at one last push to get deep into the MVP conversation.
15:59He was already in it, but to get a little deeper for it to be real.
16:02It feels real right now.
16:04It does, and honestly, you were the first one, to me, who kind of drove that conversation.
16:09And, you know, he made the point about defense.
16:12Like, he shifts the floor in a way that nobody else is doing, by far.
16:19As Hakez does a nice job getting in the lane.
16:21But if you're asking me who my MVP right now is, he has not taken it out of Shea Gilt
16:26or S'Alexander's hands.
16:27Like, if I had to vote today, I'm voting SGA.
16:32I mean, look at their record with all the pressure being applied by San Antonio.
16:39They are 16-16, Oklahoma City.
16:4237 wins in the Brutal Western Conference.
16:45That's five more than the next closest team.
16:48And I'm sorry, did Shea have to play however many games he had to play without Jalen Williams?
16:56You're second-in-command.
16:58All-star last year.
16:58All-star last year.
16:59And you see the level he's playing at.
17:02Somebody's going to have to rip it out of Shea's hands.
17:04And in my mind, that hasn't happened yet.
17:05It's a great point when you consider that for the last two months, San Antonio's only got with it one
17:11game closer in the standards.
17:12And the Spurs have lost two games in the last three weeks.
17:18They've won nine in a row.
17:19They've had a couple of lengthy win streaks.
17:21But Oklahoma City is at 60 wins as Hakez banks it in.
17:25That's a tough move by Hakez.
17:26But J.J. Reddick made a good point about Luka Doncic that he doesn't know if he's ever seen a
17:31month like that.
17:31And Doncic has really played great all years.
17:34He's an air ball for three.
17:36But he got Jokic still.
17:38He got Jalen Brown still.
17:39Cade Cunningham, although he may not get to 65 now.
17:41Don't know 65 games.
17:43You have to get there to be eligible for the awards.
17:45May not play the rest of the regular season.
17:48Mitchell, three is good.
17:50They keep competing.
17:51Five quick points.
17:57Pritchard in the corner.
17:59His three is good.
18:0217 threes for Boston.
18:04They had 11 after the first quarter.
18:06Miami's got 16 threes.
18:12Hakez.
18:13And another triple for Miami.
18:16Two, three.
18:18First three of the game for Hakez.
18:20Trading triples with Boston.
18:2219-point game.
18:23Three minutes to go.
18:24Sorry, that's not a strength of Hakez.
18:26That's the next step in his development.
18:30Tateau between the legs.
18:32Goes up for three.
18:33Another assist for Jason Tateau.
18:37That's eight.
18:38He could get a triple-double here.
18:40Because you're trying to maximize his minutes, right?
18:42He's got to play.
18:44You were making the case earlier about Jalen Brown.
18:48Like, Jalen Brown, the minutes over the last eight games have gone from, like, 34 to 38.
18:53It's playoff time, folks.
18:54We're stretching those minutes.
18:56Both those guys right now, right around 27 minutes.
18:59That's Tateau and Brown.
19:02Shireman.
19:03And that's good on the floater.
19:05Another assist.
19:07One assist away from his first triple-double of the season in his 12th game and coming off arguably his
19:13best game.
19:15On the fallaway, Hakez no.
19:21Tateau to Shireman who fumbles it away.
19:23By the way, Tateau also has 14 rebounds, tying a season high.
19:27He's had a handful of games of 10-plus.
19:29Mitchell back-rimmed the three.
19:31Kept alive, Hakez.
19:37Boston led by as many as 27.
19:39Was up 20 after the first quarter.
19:41Another three for Hakez.
19:43He's got two here in the last two minutes.
19:45Two, two, three!
19:48Eight threes in the quarter for Miami.
20:02Tateau stopped the dribble out to Garza.
20:05The three in and out, though.
20:06That would have been assist number 10 for Tateau.
20:09Mitchell into the lane at the feet of a teammate.
20:13And he gets it back out to Ware.
20:14Three-pointer for Kahlil Ware.
20:18Giving up a lot of threes if you're Boston.
20:22Now to 16 with a minute to go in the third.
20:26Miami back to the zone now.
20:33Franchard in and out.
20:35Rebound Ware.
20:38Miami pushing tempo.
20:40Hero on the drive.
20:42Out to Mitchell.
20:43Wide open triple.
20:44Got it!
20:45It's down to 13.
20:48This is the variance.
20:50This is the great equalizer, right?
20:52Changes everything in the NBA.
20:55Tatum can't answer on the 30-footer.
20:58Out of bounds.
21:00And they're saying it's off of Miami.
21:03So Tyler Hero gets the corner turn.
21:06It forces everybody in.
21:09What Damian Mitchell goes from a guy who was,
21:12you wouldn't guard him in Sacramento at the three-point line.
21:16He's four for eight tonight.
21:19Meanwhile, Yakachona's checking in for Miami.
21:22First time we've seen him.
21:24Brown and Tatum will go to the bench now to get a little extra rest.
21:28Eric Spolstra is challenging the ruling on the floor of Out of Bounds off of Miami.
21:40A ruling on the floor of Boston basketball is being challenged by Miami.
21:44Did Garza touch it last?
21:46Or it was ruled off of Larson?
21:49One more of a recompose.
21:59Number 3.
22:00We're gonna try it last.
22:04This one.
22:05A new studio.
22:06You guys are watching the hell right now.
22:09One more win.
22:09One more win.
22:11Go ahead, Michael.
22:14Stronger pro win.
22:16like Mike, like Wilk.
22:1896 Impala, thug life on wheels.
22:20Up against the wall, squabble at Fox Hills.
22:23Like a mother boss, ask me how I feel.
22:26Successful street, touching them first meals.
22:28All my life, been grinding all my life.
22:32Sacrifice, hustle paid the price.
22:34Won a slice, got the roll of dice.
22:36That's why all my life, I been grinding all my life.
22:39All my life, been grinding all my life.
22:42Sacrifice, hustle paid the price.
22:57They're still looking at this.
22:58Does, as it was ruled on the floor,
23:01touch Pella Larson's fingertips last,
23:03or did Garza hit it out of bounds for Boston?
23:07Zach Zarba, the crew chief, still looking at it,
23:09along with the replay center right now.
23:10It feels like Garza definitely got his fingers on it.
23:13But to me, it looked like Pella's fingertips were the last to touch it.
23:20But it's very close.
23:23Meanwhile, Miami has hit 10 threes in the quarter
23:26after nine in the first half.
23:27They're 10 of 14 from three in the third, and they're back in the game.
23:30I said it in the first half, Dave, like there's culture here.
23:35They're not going to quit on the game regardless of the time and score in that free ball.
23:42They're giving up too many threes for the Celtics too, but closing the gap with their ability.
23:48Taking a long time on this one.
23:50Zach Zarba, year 23, as an NBA referee, has worked 16 NBA finals.
23:56One of the best refs in the league.
24:00After review, it's been deemed Larson was the last to touch the basketball.
24:03It remains Boston ball.
24:05It's an unsuccessful challenge.
24:06They lose the timeout and the right to challenge in the future.
24:09So there's the explanation.
24:11So the Celtics will get possession with 28.1 on the game clock and 14 on the shot clock.
24:209-0 Miami run.
24:23Paquez with a couple threes, Davion Mitchell as well with a triple.
24:32I've been doing this here with Bam Adebayo on the bench.
24:39Both Brown and Tatum getting rest now for the Celtics.
24:43Heat in this zone.
24:44You can see they're very active and at a high level of communication.
24:49Richard able to keep the dribble low and misses the mid-range shot.
24:53Plenty of time for the Heat to get one final shot.
24:56But Mitchell going right away and missing the layup.
24:59Out of bounds.
25:01Off Boston.
25:03They're going to get Keita back in since they're going to stay on this end of the floor for defense.
25:10Mitchell can't believe that he missed the layup.
25:16He's given them such great minutes.
25:18I know he's frustrated.
25:19But he's 5 for 10, 14 big points, 5 assists.
25:24In his fifth NBA season out of Baylor, former top 10 draft pick.
25:29Six seconds to go in the quarter.
25:31Hawkins to Hero with three.
25:33Hero gives it up.
25:35Mitchell at the buzzer.
25:36It's good on the three.
25:39It's a 10 point game with one quarter to go.
25:43Boston hit 11 threes in the first.
25:46Miami with 11 threes in the third.
25:52Davey on Mitchell with his fifth three-pointer of the night.
25:57We got a game in Miami.
26:08Back to NBA Wednesday presented by State Farm with Eric Spolstra.
26:13Incredible grit and shooting in that quarter.
26:16What allowed you to generate those shots?
26:18I mean, it's been wild changes in this game.
26:22They've been shooting the heck out of it.
26:24And we just wanted to stay the course and make it a little bit tougher.
26:27End of the second quarter, we were defending better.
26:29So we felt like it was moving a little bit more in our direction.
26:32But it always helps if you're making a few shots.
26:35Eric, thank you so much.
26:36Okay, thanks.
26:37Appreciate it.
26:38Did you see that in most threes?
26:39Doris in a quarter in team history.
26:42They're on a 12-nothing run.
26:43They scored 45 in the third quarter.
26:46Alzer ends the run with a jumper to start the fourth.
26:50He just, he has been, he's eight for 10.
26:53And multiple of those have come off the bounce into the mid-range.
26:57Meanwhile, Spolstra keeping the five on the floor that made the run in the third quarter
27:02without Bam out of vile.
27:03Heroes three no good.
27:04Kato with the rebound.
27:06So Tatum starting the fourth.
27:08Jalen Brown on the bench to begin the fourth.
27:11Tatum one assist shy of a triple-double.
27:13Long two for Tatum.
27:15No good.
27:17Larson knew it was off Miami, so he tried to save it and does.
27:21Hero pushing tempo.
27:23Pulls up for three in transition.
27:26Tyler Hero gets Miami with a nine.
27:3321 threes for the Heat.
27:35A 15-2 run.
27:37Tyler Hero has had one heck of a year shooting the basketball.
27:43And Boston scored 53 in the first quarter.
27:47They hit 11 threes.
27:48Miami on the third.
27:49Hauser with a couple of jumpers here on the fourth.
27:52I mean, he's just playing within himself.
27:54And he understands they're running me off the three-point line.
27:56Oh, that's a brutal turnover by Hero.
27:59I just could not be more impressed by Sam Hauser and the efficiency.
28:05How calmly he is absorbing the runoff to three, one dribble into the mid-range.
28:11Happened multiple times.
28:1317 of his 23 points came in the first quarter.
28:18Tatum's got 17 points, 10 assists, 14 rebounds.
28:22He's fouled by Ware.
28:23So in game 12 of the season, Tatum has a triple-double
28:27and will be at the line for the first time tonight.
28:29So Hauser takes over 90% of his field goal attempts from three.
28:33So what do you think they're doing?
28:34They're saying, well, you know what?
28:36Do something else in order to make us believe that you can put it on the deck.
28:41And here are the prior two.
28:43He understands.
28:44Okay, well, Kaleo Ware is seven-foot and hyper-atletting at the rim.
28:48Let me stop right here.
28:51Ware picks up the foul.
28:52His first.
28:53First on Miami.
28:55Tatum now with 18 points.
28:56Now, what's interesting is we've talked in the first half about how much zone Miami plays.
29:02All of a sudden, against a team they haven't done it much.
29:05You have seen it consistently in the third and here in the fourth.
29:09And what happened against Philly was it didn't bite until the fourth period.
29:15And let's see, does it bite the Celtics here in the fourth?
29:18Great job by Tatum to get the middle of the zone there.
29:21Hawkins three no good.
29:26Boston ball up 13.
29:31Tatum around the Kata screen.
29:33Fires.
29:33And his three is good.
29:35Jason Tatum stretches the lead back to 16.
29:38And a quick heat timeout.
29:41Oh boy.
29:42If I'm in the East.
29:44And this is the team I'm looking opposite.
29:46Great screen by Kata.
29:48Into the step back side step three with the level Jalen Brown is at.
29:58The NBA on ESPN is presented all season long by State Farm.
30:03Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
30:064-1 seed, South Carolina taken on UConn and Texas and UCLA with Gabriela Hawkins, Jaime's younger sister.
30:14That's in game two of the Friday night doubleheader.
30:18Meanwhile Mitchell ends a 7-0 Boston run out of the timeout.
30:23Jalen Brown just gets up off the bench.
30:26He's at 28 minutes.
30:28He's been playing about 38.
30:30So this is going to be, you know, he'll finish here now the rest of the way, I would think.
30:35Kata with the basket inside.
30:38Tatum has played 31 minutes, has 11 assists now after that last one.
30:43To go with 22 points, 14 rebounds.
30:45The three goes for Ware.
30:47He can make that.
30:48He's hit over 80 on the season.
30:50That young man intrigues me.
30:52He's got big time talent.
30:55Just curious how quickly he develops.
30:58Tatum driving, swatted away by Ware, but a foul called on Wiggins.
31:06Wiggins saying Tatum initiated the contact, but it's called the defensive foul.
31:10So Kalil Ware is 7 foot 230 pounds and he can flat shoot the basketball.
31:16Remember the drive he had in the first half on the deck from about 20 feet.
31:21And then this is the opposite end where Tatum just goes right to the body of Andrew Wiggins, who's still
31:28paying a price for it.
31:32Tatum now 3 of 3 at the line.
31:35He's stacking now good game after good game as Jalen Brown returns.
31:39And I think that's what should have the Celtics fans most encouraged is as the season winds down, Tatum is
31:46getting better and better.
31:48He's ascending with the playoffs just a couple of weeks away.
31:52Most people thought he wouldn't play at all this year after tearing the Achilles on his right leg in game
32:01four of the conference semifinals.
32:02But not only is he back and he's been back now for almost a month, but he's playing at a
32:08terrific level.
32:11Mitchell's had a good night, able to shake Pritchard and missed the shot and it's poked out to White.
32:18Miami trailed by 27, got it down to 10, going into the fourth.
32:25It was cut to nine, but Boston back up big and now Brown going to the line.
32:30He's got 36 points and is 5 of 5 at the strike.
32:34There's a process to closing out games in the NBA.
32:38One of those is playing with the lead and then getting yourself to the free throw line.
32:43I remember Paul Pierce talking about that a lot.
32:45Like he's coming down the stretch. I want to draw fouls.
32:52Celtics didn't get to the line much in the first half.
32:59Time for tonight's national TV schedule presented by Samsung Galaxy.
33:03Doubleheader on Prime Video tomorrow.
33:05Pistons host Minnesota.
33:07The Lakers are in OKC.
33:08NBA TV Friday.
33:10Bulls at the Knicks.
33:11But NBA.com will visit the NBA after more.
33:14Minnesota and Houston.
33:1646-29.
33:19Brown missed them both.
33:22Yeah, those two teams right now are tied for fifth in the West.
33:26Trying to get to four so they get home court in the first round.
33:30But Denver right now is a game up on those two teams for four.
33:36Four minutes into the fourth here in Miami.
33:38Don't forget Spurs Warriors up next.
33:40Steph Curry not back yet, but the Warriors put out a release.
33:45He's expected to scrimmage again this week.
33:47So, potentially a return before the season ends.
33:51Brown with the rebound.
33:52Hesitates.
33:52Goes up.
33:53And scores off the window.
33:54Did you see the little communication between Tatum and Brown on that?
33:59They're clearly attacking Hero.
34:02There's just a subtle look like Tatum's like, you want this, right?
34:06And he got him the basketball.
34:08The smart basketball.
34:10Both guys with very high basketball IQ.
34:14Shot clock down to five.
34:16On a bios three a short.
34:17Haka's offensive rebound.
34:22Now Bam on the drive.
34:25Kata, good contest, but the basket goes.
34:28That's, that's tremendous touch.
34:30Footwork was elite by Bam and it needed to be.
34:33I mean, and Kata's still there, Dave.
34:36He got a great contest on that.
34:38And Miami's still within striking distance.
34:41Down 14 with seven to play.
34:45Pritchard corner three is up and it's down.
34:48Payton Pritchard with another three for Boston.
34:51That's 20 now.
34:52He's got four.
34:58Wiggins.
34:59Can't answer.
35:01One and done for Miami on that possession.
35:04Lead back to 17 for the Celtics.
35:09Trying to win for the eighth time in their last 10 games.
35:12An inch closer to wrapping up that two seat.
35:15Reaching foul on Mitchell.
35:17Fourth in the quarter on the heat.
35:21So Miami's defense is loaded up with eyes and vision on the guy with the basketball.
35:27You see Bam, right?
35:28He's in the bottom part of that zone.
35:30Pritchard wisely saying, okay, everybody's eyes are on the guy who's got the isolation mismatch we want.
35:37So Bam's just going to cheat over the dead sprint to the corner.
35:41Beautifully done by Pritchard.
35:44Brown fires to Kata who lays it in.
35:47Another assist for Brown.
35:49That's now five.
35:52Kata's got nine points, 10 rebounds.
35:55Back to a 19 point lead.
35:57The hero's floater is there.
36:00He's got a lot of offensive game, this guy.
36:04Eight team tonight at 30 in each of the last two games.
36:11White.
36:14Brown.
36:15With a jab step.
36:17Now the fall away.
36:19No good.
36:19Almost tipped in by Kata.
36:21And great hustle by Kata.
36:25And he's fouled.
36:27Come on.
36:27This guy's doing so many good things.
36:30The group loves him.
36:32Joe loves coaching Kata.
36:36This is a, he is a delightful young man to talk to, folks.
36:40Watch him work here.
36:42Just like, mm-mm.
36:43I'm going to outwork you, out-tough you, whatever is required.
36:48And it's a lot of thankless stuff, right?
36:50It's screen after screen after screen to defend the rim.
36:56We had a chance to speak with him early in the season.
36:58Just a bright young man, great to talk to, speaks four languages.
37:02Thankfully for us, only spoke one, otherwise we would have been lost.
37:05But, just a joy to talk to.
37:08And as you said, he is beloved in Boston by everybody.
37:12Players, coaches, fans.
37:14His 15th double-double of the season.
37:1711 points and 12 boards.
37:19And Boston back in full command at the midway point of the fourth.
37:24Akez penetrates and is able to score as Kata was trying to block it.
37:30Kata had an awkward landing.
37:32He's a little slow, jogging back up the floor.
37:34Might also just be exhausted.
37:37Right, I think it's the pace of the game.
37:40You can see how high up this zone pushes out.
37:43Like these, those guards in the front of that zone,
37:46they are pushed away, way to the top of the floor.
37:49Nifty move by Tatum and got the bank shot.
37:53He's got 25 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.
37:59Hero.
38:00Another rebound for Tatum, that's number 17.
38:03We were talking with Joe Mazzula before the game about the scoring
38:07and the no turnovers for Tatum against Charlotte in his last game.
38:10And Mazzula said he's got to rebound better.
38:12Well, he's responded tonight as Kata gets the bounce.
38:18They're just, they're carving it up now, right?
38:21They're just quick decision making.
38:23Touching the weak spots.
38:28At Abayo, got a three.
38:31His fourth three-pointer.
38:34Might be too late at this point.
38:3618-point game, nearly four minutes to go.
38:50Brown, way off the mark on the long three and out of bounds to Miami.
38:58Joe Mazzula will keep Tatum and Brown on the court for now.
39:02Brown two points shy of 40.
39:15Larson penetrating out to Wiggins.
39:18Bumping Tatum and now falling away off the back iron.
39:21And rebound number 18 for Tatum.
39:23His career high is 19.
39:24I want you to keep in mind, when Boston was struggling out of the gates,
39:28when they start one and four, and I can't remember.
39:30They had double-digit losses before, I think, double-digit wins.
39:35One of their main weaknesses was defensive rebound.
39:38And to their credit, it has become a real strength.
39:41And now that Tatum's back, it's like, good night.
39:43Between Tatum and Tatum, you're not getting an offensive rebound.
39:46Heat were effective early there getting some offensive boards.
39:49They've tightened that up.
39:50Tatum has been an excellent rebounder now for many years.
39:54Yes.
39:55And in the games this season, he's averaging right around 10 rebounds per game.
40:01Larson commits the foul as second.
40:03Free throws for Kata.
40:04And it's his optionality.
40:06You know, we think about him as a gifted offensive player.
40:10Appropriate.
40:11I just can't hammer home enough the role he played on the defensive end of that championship team.
40:17And his excellent defensive rebounding allowing you to play him at the five.
40:23Draymond Green and the Warriors trying to hold it down until Steph Curry comes back.
40:27Can they climb the standings?
40:29Right now they're in 10th in the West.
40:30They've got San Antonio up next.
40:33They're a game back of Portland for nine and two back of the Clippers for the eighth spot.
40:37And Chom said Steph Curry cleared for five on five scrimmaging.
40:41That's a big hurdle.
40:44Likely another scrimmage coming into the week for Curry as well as he ramps up with the hope of returning
40:50for, at worst, the play.
40:53And maybe even before then.
40:5724 threes now for Miami.
41:02Fourth time they've made 24 threes in a game in franchise history and the second time this season.
41:08Tatum's pass too hot to handle for Cato.
41:10And then out of Iowa, he just had that slip through his hands as he tried to throw it down
41:15court to Larson.
41:20Tatum launches.
41:22Can't get it.
41:23Ooh, Cato.
41:25Falls to the ground.
41:26Along with Hero.
41:29After Cato.
41:31Skied for the rebound.
41:33He's up.
41:34Hero is not.
41:38An injury filled year for Hero.
41:40Hopefully he's okay.
41:41Back in a second.
41:44Timeout.
41:45Sultans.
41:49Well, what an extraordinary night for a young man who's had an extraordinary year.
41:53This ridiculous off the Cato screen to the one-legged three.
41:58With contact against an excellent defender.
42:02Doesn't look like he's on balance or has shoulders square.
42:05It didn't matter.
42:06And then Tatum, the other tandem, the part of the J that's so integral to their success.
42:11Is looking more and more like himself.
42:14Filling a stat sheet.
42:16Scoring.
42:17A rebounding and assisting a triple-double.
42:19Incredible.
42:19And now for the 194th time, third most in Celtic history.
42:25Tatum and Brown with 20 points each.
42:28Closing in on Havlicek and White for second.
42:32Cato gets the free throw.
42:34Here we go.
42:35So Hero has been taken out of the lineup.
42:38Hopefully he's okay after that fall.
42:39Cato staying in to shoot the free throws.
42:45So Boston will improve to 10-2 with Jason Tatum on the floor.
42:52And Tatum and Brown play together.
42:54They were plus 64 coming into tonight.
42:56And that will go up after this game.
43:01Larson is three no good.
43:03And a loose ball foul on Boston.
43:07Is it on Cato or Pritchard trying to contend with?
43:10It's on Pritchard.
43:11Yeah.
43:19Six games left after tonight for Boston.
43:21Four of those are home.
43:23They have two more road games.
43:24The next one's at Milwaukee Friday.
43:27Also have a big one against the Knicks.
43:29Although it looks like Boston will hold them off for the two-seat.
43:33They do right now lose the tiebreakers.
43:35That could be a key game for them if Boston does stumble between now and then.
43:39The Knicks do not have an easy out either though.
43:43So that differential in the lost column is pretty weighty.
43:49It's three with six games left.
43:51Hard to make that up.
43:53Larson completes the three-point play after the Shireman foul.
44:00Miami has five games left after tonight.
44:04And the Heat will be in the tenth spot right now.
44:09Which means if you're in tenth you only get...
44:14You have the one game in the play and on the road.
44:17If you win that you get another chance if you lose your season's over.
44:20Joe Mozilla keeping Jalen Brown on the floor.
44:22Tried to get 40 points.
44:23He just ripped the three badly.
44:25Now on the baseline he rises up.
44:27Can't can it.
44:28Kept alive though by Shireman.
44:32They want to get it to Brown to see if he can get his seventh 40-point game.
44:38Brown driving, puts on the brakes, falls away, hits it.
44:41Jalen Brown with a 40-point night.
44:44The seventh of the year for Brown and 142 for the team.
44:51Layup is good for Mitchell.
45:05Brown looking for more.
45:11Sidestep three.
45:12Another one for Jalen Brown.
45:14That was tough.
45:15He's got 43.
45:20Hawke has swatted but got it back and scores.
45:29Jalen Brown 17 of 29 from the floor.
45:32Four of ten from three.
45:34Forty-three points.
45:35They're going to double him to force him to pass it.
45:41White shovels to Brown with a shot clock at five.
45:44Brown doubled.
45:45Gives it up.
45:46White a clear path to the hoop.
45:47And the bank drops for Derek White.
45:57Mitchell no good.
46:00Rebound Kata.
46:0351 wins for Boston.
46:07And the Celtics remain three games up on the next closest team for the two spot in the Eastern Conference
46:16playoff picture.
46:21Boston will take a 24 second violation here.
46:23Then Miami will just dribble out the clock.
46:28It's a wild night.
46:29It started with the Celtics hitting eleven threes in the first quarter leading fifty three to thirty three.
46:35Miami hit eleven threes in the third quarter to cut it to ten.
46:38But the Celtics open the game back up early in the fourth and roll the victory.
46:44Behind forty three from Jalen Brown and a triple double by Jason Tatum his first since returning from the Achilles
46:50injury a month ago.
46:52Final score Boston one forty seven Miami one twenty nine.
46:59Celtics improve the fifty one and twenty five Miami falls to forty and thirty seven.
47:11A lot of people coming into the month of April felt at Boston with the addition of Jason Tatum.
47:18Now the team to be in the Eastern Conference.
47:21For those that felt that way certainly the performance tonight backs up why they believe that because the Celtics look
47:29like a very dangerous team.
47:33You throw Hauser's twenty three in there seventeen in the first quarter.
47:38Brown Hauser and Tatum combined for ninety one.
47:42That's what a lot of teams get in tonight.
47:48Fifth triple double in the regular season for Tatum of his career.
47:52He also has one in the playoffs.
47:55He finishes with twenty five eighteen rebounds one shy.
48:00Of matching his career high.
48:02He also had eleven assists.
48:05And the efficiency of Jalen Brown.
48:10Shooting about sixty percent from the floor and scoring forty three points his seven forty point game.
48:16But Tatum had it all mid range three pointers.
48:19All of his rebounds were on the defensive end.
48:21Had some terrific passes as well.
48:25He was able to get to the free throw line in the second half.
48:28Use the K to screen and drill the three pointer early in the fourth quarter quarter to kind of put
48:34the game out of reach again.
48:38And Jason Tatum starting to look like the player that is a four time first team all NBA performer.
48:48And Jalen Brown who has never been first team all NBA the best was a second team all NBA nod
48:54back in twenty twenty three.
48:56Most certainly.
48:58First team all NBA in twenty twenty six would be.
49:01A big time shock if he doesn't get first team all NBA.
49:05All right Jason Tatum standing by with doors.
49:08So I have to ask you about your counterpart first because you know how hard it is to do what
49:12Jalen Brown did tonight.
49:14Jason of all the things you've seen him grow out.
49:17What's most impressed you.
49:19Just his ability to read the floor.
49:22You know just make the right reason.
49:24Know when to be aggressive.
49:26Obviously hell of a two way player.
49:28You know that's what we focus on just playing both sides of the ball.
49:32He's you know amazing at that.
49:34He had a hot start and he just kept it going.
49:37You came in as a great scorer to this league.
49:39Your defensive rebounding has always been on point.
49:41Some of the passes you are making now.
49:44How much do you think you've grown in that particular aspect.
49:48I've grown a lot.
49:49And it's a trial and error.
49:51You know I attribute a lot of that to our first appearance in the finals.
49:55You know I learned a lot from that playoff run and that final series and you know I got to
50:00work in that summer.
50:0225 18 and 11.
50:03There's only one other Celtic who's had that kind of triple double.
50:06You can guess it's Larry Bird.
50:07When you join him in any category.
50:10What does that feel like.
50:13It's an honor.
50:14Anytime you mention with all time greats.
50:17You know.
50:18Means I'm doing something right.
50:20So I'm trying.
50:21Thank you so much.
50:22Great to see you back.
50:24Yes.
50:24It's just a remarkable comeback to even be on the floor playing.
50:29But playing at this level.
50:30I don't know if anybody would have expected this.
50:32And we just started April.
50:34What's to come for Jason Tatum in May and maybe into June.
50:38The Celtics behind his triple double.
50:41And 43 from Jalen Brown.
50:43Beat the Miami Heat.
50:45147-129.
50:46For Doris Burke I'm Dave Pasch.
50:48Thanks for watching.
50:49So long from Miami.
50:50Stay tuned after the break.
50:52We've got Malika, Coach Malone, Windy and Burke.
50:54And then it's Spurs and Warriors.
50:56Game two of our NBA Wednesday double dip.
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