The Miami Heat faced both good and bad news following their elimination from the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics on Monday night. With the Celtics now holding full control of this Eastern Conference series, Derrick White’s career-high 38 points led them to a 102-88 victory over the Heat, resulting in a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

“I made a couple shots early,” White said, reflecting on his performance. “That always helps. Once you make a couple, the basket looks huge.”

Despite this victory, the Celtics suffered a setback when Kristaps Porzingis sustained a right calf ιnjᴜry in the first half. While his condition reмɑιns uncertain, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla expressed concern but had not received an update postgame.

The Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum’s 20 points and 10 rebounds, seized control early, establishing a 34-24 lead in the first quarter. On the other hand, the Heat struggled offensively, managing to reach just 59 points through three quarters, matching a season low set in Game 1 of this series.

Bam Adebayo’s impressive performance of 25 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists wasn’t enough to lift the Heat, who played without injured starters Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. Miami now faces an uphill ƅɑttle as they attempt to rally in Game 5, with the Celtics having the opportunity to advance to the second round on Wednesday.

Despite the challenging situation, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reмɑιns optimistic, acknowledging that the team has the potential to turn things around offensively.

With Boston now holding a 3-1 series lead, history suggests the odds are stacked against Miami. This marks the 29th time a Boston team has taken a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series, with the Celtics winning all 28 previous instances, including a first-round series against Miami in 2010.

Ultimately, while Miami couldn’t keep up with Boston in Game 4, they remain determined to fιɡҺt back and extend the series.