When the Boston Celtics last left Miami

When the Boston Celtics last left Miami, they were on the ropes. Down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals. Unable to solve LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. On the cusp of being ousted by the Heat for a second straight season.

Three games and three wins later, the plot could not be more different as they sauntered out of Miami this time.

And for one of sports' most storied franchises, yet another trip to the NBA finals might be looming.

Kevin Garnett finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 19 — including a huge 3-pointer over James' outstretched arm with 52.9 seconds left — and the Celtics beat the Heat 94-90 on Tuesday night, stealing home-court advantage and taking a 3-2 lead in the East finals that now shift to Boston for Game 6 on Thursday night.

"This is like a heavyweight bout," Garnett said.

If so, it's the Celtics who have fought their way off the ropes.

They trailed by 13 in the second quarter, by nine in the third, by six with 6 minutes left to play. And every time, they answered — a 22-11 run to close the half, a 15-1 run to end the third and a 22-12 run to end the game. A trio of comebacks, a trio of wins, and a chance to oust Miami's Big Three one round earlier than the Heat ever imagined.

"We've done nothing," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We're playing a heck of a basketball team. So just because we're going to Boston, I told them, we have to play. They're not going to give it to us. We have to go get it."

That Was Our Best Said "paul pierce"

With the Boston Celtics holding on a to a 1-point lead late in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night, Paul Pierce pulled up for a gutsy (if questionable) three-pointer with LeBron James closing in on him. It splashed through the hoop, and catapulted the Celtics into the series lead.

Pierce said afterward that he never had any doubts. Per the Boston Herald: “Was Pierce thinking 3 the whole time? ‘It’s kind of hard to say in those situations,’ he said. ‘Things are going so fast.

You kind of play on instincts.’ But … ‘I saw him back up,’ Pierce said, referring to LeBron’s Welcome Wagon.

‘He gave me a step. I knew it was within my range. The shot clock was winding down …’ So he took the shot. Up went LeBron’s arm. Down went the ball, into the basket. ‘That’s just being in those moments so many times,’ Pierce said. ‘And understanding what your team needs, and being able to concentrate and get the best shot for us. I thought that was our best shot. Once I saw him back up, then I was able to knock it down.