Celtics advance to East semifinals, beating short-handed Heat 118-84 in Game 5

BOSTON (AP) — If this playoff run is about redemption for the Boston Celtics, it had to start with exacting some revenge against the Miami Heat.

A year ago, Miami embarrassed Boston in a Game 7 showdown at TD Garden.

This time, the Celtics returned the favor.

Jaylen Brown and Derrick White each scored 25 points and the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, beating the short-handed Heat 118-84 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Boston will face the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando series. The Cavaliers lead 3-2, with Game 6 in Orlando on Friday night.

Brown said they went into the game with a business-like approach.

“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.”

That was echoed by teammate Jayson Tatum.

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

Brown also had six assists, and White hit five 3-pointers. Sam Hauser added 17 points and Tatum had 16 points and 12 rebounds, The top-seeded Celtics never trailed and led by 35 points.

Bam Adebayo scored 23 points and Tyler Herro had 15 for Miami, which made its first exit from the playoffs prior to the conference finals since 2021. The Heat struggled throughout, going 3 of 29 from 3-point range.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it was clear early that the Celtics were playing with some extra energy from the opening tap.

“They probably had something to motivate them even more against us,” he said.

Despite the lopsided loss and the way their season ended, Adebayo said he is taking lessons into the offseason.

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

Boston played for the first time this postseason without center Kristaps Porzingis after he strained his right calf in the Celtics’ Game 4 victory. His teammates filled in the gaps, as the Celtics’ lead reached 30 points in the first half.

Boston exploited a Heat team that was the most injured it’d been in the series. Jaime Jaquez Jr. sat out after suffering a hip injury in Game 4. He was replaced in the lineup by Delon Wright, marking the 37th starting five the Heat used this season. Jaquez joined Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck), who had both been sidelined since the start of the series.

It made for unique rotations for Miami, which included veteran Patty Mills logging minutes for just the third time in the series.

Boston seized on the vulnerabilities in the Heat’s defense, spreading them out and knocking down eight 3-pointers in the opening period. It helped the Celtics carry an 18-point lead into the second quarter.

The highlight of the opening 12 minutes came courtesy of White, who pulverized Miami from long distance with eight 3s in Game 4. He stayed on the attack early Wednesday, faking a 3-point attempt and then driving in for an uncontested one-handed dunk.

White played to the home crowd afterward, holding his hand in front of his face as he backpedaled up the court. After the Heat called a timeout, a courtside fan near the Celtics’ bench could be seen pantomiming fanning White on the sideline.

“I think that’s when I’m at my best, when I’m having fun out there," White said. "But at the same time realizing this is a best moment and we’re all locked into it.”

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Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) takes a shot over Miami Heat guard Patty Mills (88) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Miami Heat players watch from the bench while trailing the Boston Celtics by more than 30 points during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, center, tries to drive to the basket against the Boston Celtics during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) is congratulated after hitting a 3-pointer against the Miami Heat during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla calls to his players during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) drives to the basket past Miami Heat guard Delon Wright, center rear, during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) tries to shoot over Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center, drives to the basket against Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) and guard Tyler Herro during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots over Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches his players during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) sets to drive against Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) tosses up a shot after driving past Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) battles Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin for the ball during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives past Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) grabs a long pass against Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin, left, during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, right, slams a dunk against Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian professional soccer was rocked Friday by accusations that the captain of A-League club Macarthur FC paid two younger teammates up to 10,000 Australian dollars ($6,600) to deliberately receive yellow cards in a scheme set up by a South American gambling connection.

Local media identified Macarthur team leader Ulises Davila and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis as the players arrested over their alleged involvement in the match-fixing scheme, which police say led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.

Authorities still want to interview a fourth player allegedly involved in the scheme, threatening to extradite him if he does not return to New South Wales state to face questioning.

Investigators allege yellow cards were manipulated during games played on Nov. 24 and Dec. 9. They also allege unsuccessful attempts were made to do similar during matches on April 20 and May 4.

Macarthur played out a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory on Nov. 24 before beating Sydney FC 2-0 on Dec. 9. All three players were given yellow cards in the Dec. 9 game against Sydney.

The team beat Sydney 1-0 on April 20 before being beaten 4-0 by Sydney FC in a playoff elimination game on May 4. Macarthur finished in fifth place during the regular season.

Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said the players had “betrayed the trust of their supporters and the code."

“Yellow cards and the subsequent penalties that arise out of those yellow cards could change the result of that game,” he said a media conference Friday. ”$10,000 may seem a lot of money to a young sports person, (but) that is incredibly insignificant when you consider the damage that being charged with this offense and convicted results in.”

No further information was given about the South American gambling connection.

The southwest Sydney club said it was “shocked” by the allegations, which came after a six-month police investigation.

State police said the probe was launched in December 2023 with the help of Britain-based officials after suspicious betting patterns were identified.

Macarthur FC chief executive Sam Krslovic said the club was caught off-guard by the arrests but it would work with authorities, adding: "Integrity of our game is a foundation pillar and we will work closely with all relevant agencies on this matter.”

Australian Associated Press reported that Davila was arrested on Friday at South Coogee, in Sydney’s east, when police executed a search warrant as part of the investigation. Lewis was arrested in Parramatta and Baccus was arrested in Campbelltown, both western Sydney suburbs.

Davila is expected to be charged with two counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event and two counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event. The other two players will be charged with engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event.

Authorities said on Friday the players were yet to be charged and were still at police stations, but they were likely to be given bail before initial court appearances.

Football Australia said it was made aware of the arrests on Friday morning and was cooperating with the investigation.

Macarthur FC has been in the A-League men’s competition since the 2020-21 season. The league has 11 clubs based in Australia and one in New Zealand, with this season's grand final championship match scheduled for May 25.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Macarthur FC player Clayton Lewis heads the ball during an A-League match against Sydney FC in Sydney, May 4, 2024. Lewis and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Ulises Davila have been arrested, Friday, May 17, 2024, over their alleged involvement in a the betting fix, which police say has led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. (Mark Evans/AAP Image via AP)

Macarthur FC player Kearyn Baccus passes the ball during an A-League match Brisbane Roar in Brisbane on Jan. 18, 2024. Baccus and fellow players Ulises Davila and Clayton Lewis have been arrested, Friday, May 17, 2024, over their alleged involvement in a the betting fix, which police say has led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. (Darren England/AAP Image via AP)

Macarthur FC player Ulises Davila passes the ball during an A-League match against Melbourne City in Sydney, March 1, 2024. Davila and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis have been arrested, Friday, May 17, 2024, over their alleged involvement in a the betting fix, which police say has led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. (Mark Evans/AAP Image via AP)

Macarthur FC players prepare for the start of an A-League Men Elimination Final match against Sydney FC in Sydney, May 4, 2024. Three A-League players, believed to be from Macarthur FC, were arrested Friday, May 17, 2024, for alleged betting corruption after police claimed they manipulated the number of yellow cards they received in games last year, Football Australia said. (Mark Evans/AAP Image via AP)