Celtics beat Heat in Game 2 to tie Eastern Conference Finals at 1-1
Celtics beat Heat in Game 2 to tie Eastern Conference Finals at 1-1
MIAMI – Game 2 was over at halftime. Maybe even a little earlier.
Delivering an impressive loss and building a 29-point first-half lead, the Boston Celtics cruised to a 127-102 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday, tying the Eastern Conference Finals at 1-1.
At first, it looked like the Heat might be the team heading to a blowout victory. Miami built an 18-8 lead, but the game changed when Boston went small, replacing Grant Williams for Robert Williams. Boston finished the quarter on a 20-5 run and continued to hit the Heat with hot defense and shooting in the second quarter.
It was Miami’s first home loss in the playoffs as the Celtics took the home court advantage.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 27 points, and Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown each had 24 points for Boston. Miami’s Jimmy Butler had a game-high 29 points.
Game 3 is Saturday in Boston (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Grant Williams Effect
The Celtics were trailing 18-13 when Grant Williams entered the game. Williams stayed for the remainder of the half, and by the time the Celtics took a 64-37 lead, they had outscored the Heat by 32 points in 14 minutes and 36 seconds on the field.
For the game, the Celtics were 37 points better than the Heat with Williams on the ground.
He had 19 points and four rebounds, but his impact was above his stat line. The Heat didn’t have many answers for a smaller roster, especially with Smart and Al Horford back on the court after missing Game 1.
Heat’s offensive issues
In a game like this, Miami’s offensive issues weren’t just one thing. Boston’s defense played much better and didn’t put Butler on the free throw line as often as in Game 1. And Miami didn’t make any shots, shooting 44.2 percent from the field and going 10 for 34 (29.4 percent) on 3-point range.
Going into the third quarter, Butler was the only Heat player in double digits in points, and while his 41-point effort in Game 1 did the job, the Heat need more from the others.
Miami was missing to score alongside Butler, and that will be a key aspect of the series to follow. Tyler Herro, the sixth man of the year, had 11 points but only seven in the first three quarters and was the only Heat reserve to score three.
Max Strus and Bam Adebayo each had six points and PJ Tucker five points. Gabe Vincent contributed 14 points as Miami’s starters were outscored 90-60. Twelve of Victor Oladipo’s 14 points came in a meaningless fourth quarter.
Who will bring the most goals to Miami in Game 3?
Horford, Smart back in line-up
Horford cleared the NBA’s COVID health and safety protocols and Smart returned from a sprained right foot. Both players missed Game 1 and were in the starting lineup for Game 2.
Ahead of the game, Celtics coach Ime Udoka said both players were “all in”.
“Obviously an advantage for us,” he said.
Smart was just 8 for 22 from the field but 5 for 12 on 3s. The Defensive Player of the Year also had 12 assists, nine rebounds and three steals. He had an impact on the game, playing on an injured foot that had sidelined him two days before. It was a quiet night for Horford (10 points, three rebounds), but as Udoka said, the Celtics are enjoying it with him on the court.
Celtics rediscover 3-point shooting
Boston shot 9 for 11 on 3-pointers in the first quarter — recalling its 3-pointer shot in the past two games against Milwaukee in the conference semifinals. The Celtics struggled with 3 balls in Game 1.
The Celtics finished 20 for 40 from 3, and while that wasn’t the main factor in the result, they outscored the Heat by 30 points from long range.
Tatum, Williams, Smart, Horford, Brown and Payton Pritchard (10 points) all had at least two 3s.
While Tatum and Brown are the leading scorers, the Celtics have multiple scoring options, which could be the defining factor in this series.
The Whites miss Game 2
Celtics guard Derrick White, who started Game 1 in place of Smart, missed Game 2 so he could be present for the birth of his child with his wife, Hannah.
“(The baby) arrived earlier than expected,” Udoka said. “We always support our guys in this situation. He had to rush today.”
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
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