If this postseason journey signifies redemption for the Boston Celtics, it had to commence with settling a score against the Miami Heat.

A year ago, Miami dealt a humiliating blоw to Boston in a Game 7 showdown at TD Garden.

This time, the tables turned.

Jaylen Brown and Derrick White contributed 25 points each as the Celtics progressed to the Eastern Conference semifinals, defeating the undermanned Heat 118-84 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Boston will await the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando series, with the Cavaliers holding a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6 in Orlando on Friday night.

Brown emphasized the team’s focused approach to the game, stating, “It is a lot of history, back and forth. But it didn’t matter who it was. We just had to get the job done.” This sentiment was echoed by teammate Jayson Tatum, who highlighted the significance of every playoff encounter.

Brown, in addition to his scoring, contributed six assists, while White connected on five 3-pointers. Sam Hauser added 17 points, and Tatum secured a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The top-seeded Celtics maintained control throughout, never trailing and extending their lead to 37 points.

For Miami, Bam Adebayo recorded 23 points, and Tyler Herro contributed 15, but the Heat struggled, particularly from beyond the arc, shooting just 3 of 29 from 3-point range.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the Celtics’ heightened energy from the outset, remarking, “They probably had something to motivate them even more against us.”

Despite the decisive loss and the end of their season, Adebayo emphasized the lessons learned, particularly in мentаl toughness, looking ahead to the offseason.

Boston played without center Kristaps Porzingis for the first time this postseason, but his absence was mitigated by the collective effort of his teammates. Exploiting Miami’s ιnjᴜry-riddled roster, the Celtics capitalized on vulnerabilities in the Heat’s defense, building a substantial lead early on.

White, who had been instrumental in Game 4 with his sharpshooting, continued his impact, energizing the crowd with a thunderous dunk in the opening minutes.

Reflecting on his performance and the team’s success, White emphasized the importance of having fun while remaining focused on the task at hand.