The Boston Celtics needed to win Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals to even this series at two games apiece.

So why did they -- and, in particular, Jayson Tatum -- come out so flat in the first half, an effort that helped doom them to a 112-109 loss to the Miami Heat and to a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series?

"I wasn't aggressive enough," Tatum said. "I didn't score in the first half. That's unacceptable. So I knew I had to play better, and that's what I tried to do."

Source: Tim Bontemps of ESPN

ANALYSIS: Jayson Tatum put a lot of blame on himself after the Celtics lost a crucial Game 4 to Miami. Tatum, who had a zero-point first half, scored all of his 28 points in the third and fourth quarters after finding a rhythm coming out of the break. But it was too late for Tatum and the Celtics, as they had to play catch up in the second half with rookie Tyler Herro leading the way for Miami.

Boston will look to take it one game at a time as they try to climb out of a 3-1 hole. Expect Tatum to come out aggressive in Game 5 after a dismal first half in Game 4.