Heat vs. Celtics: Game 4 Highlights, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

The Boston Celtics pulled out a Game 4 victory over the Miami Heat in overtime by a score of 93-91.

The win ties the Eastern Conference finals at two games apiece.

Boston led by as many as 18 points in the first half, but Miami rallied back in the second half before a back-and-forth fourth quarter.

Both Paul Pierce and LeBron James fouled out in overtime as the Celtics held on for the win.

Here's a closer look at this exciting game.

Video Highlights

With the Celtics out to a big early lead, LeBron James did his best to keep Miami in it with two huge dunks.

If you'd like to know how to make a perfect bounce pass, then you're in luck. Rajon Rondo gives the perfect example with this pass to Paul Pierce.

Twitter Reaction

Hardwood Paroxysm, i.e. Matt Moore of CBS, noted how good Miami was passing the ball early on. Also, how bad, or how little, the Heat were distributing it:

"

Boston's passing>>>Spur's passing>>>>>Hawks passing>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Heat passing this game.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 3, 2012"

Expanding on that, Rajon Rondo was passing the ball pretty darn amazingly. ESPN's Chris Palmer puts it simply after Rondo made another insane pass:

"

Rondo sees angles we didn't know existed.

— chris palmer (@ESPNChrisPalmer) June 3, 2012"

At halftime, ESPN Stats & Info pointed out how big of a roll the Boston Celtics are on, especially on the offensive end:

"

#Celtics have 61 points at half- 4th time they've scored 60+ in the 1st half ofplayoff game in the "Big 3+Rondo Era" -3rd this postseason

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2012"

Mark Titus, the founding member of Club Trillion, noted that he had better things to do than watch the game:

"

Tense moment there. Thought Miss Ohio was about to get robbed. (What's that? There's an NBA playoff game on right now? Are you sure?)

— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) June 3, 2012"

A big reason the Heat were able to fight back in the third quarter was Dwyane Wade. NBA Guru points out that Wade has had a knack of doing that lately:

"

Wade with another strong 3rd quarter (9 pts,4-6 FG). In the last 7 games, he's now 26-36 (72.2%) from the floor with 60 points. Wow.

— NBA Guru (@NBAGuru) June 3, 2012"

MSG's Alan Hahn noted that D-Wade doesn't get criticized for the same things LeBron does and the obvious double-standard:

"

Take note: Dwyane Wade passed the ball on that last possession down one. When LeBron passes down one, Twitter goes into hyperdrive.

— Alan Hahn (@alanhahn) June 3, 2012"

Grades for Key Heat Players

LeBron James: B-

James was good and bad in this one. He missed some late shots, but he still finished with 29 points on 12-of-25 shooting.

However, James wasn't really his normal self in other areas. He pulled down just six rebounds to go along with three assists and seven turnovers. A 3-to-7 assist-to-turnover ratio is not good.

At all.

He hit a late clutch three to send the game to OT, but then he fouled out in extra time.

Seriously, good and bad. 

Dwyane Wade: B

It's hard to fault Wade, especially after he finished with an absolutely stacked stat line. Wade dropped 20 points on a dismal 7-of-22 shooting night, but he added seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks.

Still, though, he had a bad first half, turned it over four times, wasn't really relevant in the overtime, missed the game-winning shot and was largely inconsistent throughout the entire game. 

Wade made some exciting plays, but he could have been a lot better.

Grades for Key Celtics Players

Kevin Garnett: A-

The only reason I'm not giving Garnett a true A is because he struggled on the offensive end.

KG shot just 8-of-20 for 17 points, but he pulled down 14 rebounds, dished out three assists and racked up two steals and five blocks on the defensive end.

He may have not been elite on the offensive end, but it was a vintage KG performance all over the court. 

Rajon Rondo: A

Rondo had an absolutely terrific first half and it looked like he was primed for a Game 2 repeat. However, the Heat made good adjustments, and the point guard didn't do a whole lot in the third and fourth quarters.

Still, though, Rondo picked things up and had a very good finish to regulation along with a solid overtime. He finished with 15 points, 15 assists and three offensive rebounds.

Deciding Factor: Heart

This was a very evenly played game. 

The Heat shot 42.5 percent and the Celtics shot 41.2 percent. The Heat got to the line 24 times and the Celtics got to the line 20 times. Forty rebounds to 39 rebounds. Six steals and six blocks to Boston's six steals and seven blocks. Seventeen to 15 turnovers.

Remarkably even.

But when overtime came and two stars had fouled out, the Celtics, though having blown a huge lead, showed a little more heart.

Game MVP: Rajon Rondo

He shot 50 percent from the field and committed just three turnovers in a 15-15 night. He played big-time defense on Wade and several other players down the stretch.

It's hard to ask for much more from Rondo.

What's Next: Game 5 on Tuesday

With the series tied at two, these teams will head to Miami for Game 5, which takes place Tuesday, June 5, at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

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