Celtics return home with chance to close out Heat

BOSTON -- The Celtics are back in Boston and preparing for Game 6 against the Miami Heat.

A victory on Thursday night would put the Celtics in the NBA finals for the third time in five years. It would also end Miami's bid to defend its Eastern Conference title.

The Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals in six games last year, the first with the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

The Celtics took command of the series with a 94-90 victory on Tuesday night. It was Boston's third consecutive victory since falling behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

"We're a hard-fought team and we've been together for a while. We've been through countless different battles and different teams. We expect this team so much that sometimes they get in the way. Tonight we fought man," said Kevin Garnett.

"We have some very strong personalities and guys that want to win, and our only fault at times is we all want to do it," said Ray Allen. "And we found a way to come together and do it together."

Doc Rivers cautioned the series is far from over.

"We've done nothing. We're playing a heck of a basketball team and so just 'cause 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," said Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers.

"We have two teams that are well-coached with great players on both, that what it is," Garnett said.

Rivers said it has been a team effort throughout the series.

"We have a lot of postive talk in our locker room a lot, and I think it fuels from them, you know. And honestly, they believe they can win. We just got to keep hanging in there," Rivers said.

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