The Boston Celtics started their NBA playoff campaign with a resounding statement of intent. They avenged last season’s defeat by overpowering the Miami Heat 118-84 in Game 5, thereby securing a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Last year, the Heat dealt the Celtics a crushing blow in a decisive Game 7 at TD Garden. This season, however, Boston flipped the script, showcasing a dominant performance to oust Miami early from the playoffs.

Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, the night’s leaders, each scored 25 points, spearheading Boston’s advance. The Celtics will now prepare to face the victor of the ongoing Cleveland-Orlando series, which the Cavaliers currently lead 3-2.

“It is a lot of history, back and forth. But it didn’t matter who it was,” Brown said. “We just had to get the job done.” This no-nonsense attitude was crucial in setting the tone for the Celtics’ performance.

Teammate Jayson Tatum, who has faced Miami multiple times in the postseason, reiterated the importance of consistency and execution.

“I think this is my fourth time playing them in playoffs,” Tatum noted. “They all count the same. … We did our job. We took care of business.”

Alongside Brown and White’s stellar performances, Sam Hauser added 17 points, and Tatum himself contributed a significant double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Celtics dominated throughout, never trailing and, at one point, leading by as much as 37 points.

Despite a standout 23-point performance from Bam Adebayo and 15 points from Tyler Herro, the Heat struggled, especially with their shooting, making only 3-29 attempts from beyond the arc. This marked their earliest playoff exit since 2021.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra recognized the Celtics’ enhanced motivation and energy right from the start. “They probably had something to motivate them even more against us,” he observed.

Despite the disappointing end to their season, Adebayo found a silver lining.

“We’ve gained a lot of mental toughness,” Adebayo stated. “Going through that as a captain, it helped me understand that the ship’s going to get rocky sometimes.”

The Celtics were without Kristaps Porzingis, who suffered a calf injury earlier in the series, but his absence didn’t slow them down. Instead, Boston exploited Miami’s injury woes—Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jimmy Butler, and Terry Rozier were among the absentees—pouncing on a depleted lineup that saw its 37th different starting configuration.

Boston’s aggressive play was on full display, particularly in the first quarter, which ended with an 18-point lead. This was partly due to White’s dynamic scoring and engaging celebration, which resonated with the home crowd.

As the Celtics move forward, they carry with them not just a victory but a potent mix of fun and focused determination, ready for the challenges of the Eastern Conference semifinals.