By Reinaldo Oliveros
Apr 25, 2024, 08:28 AM EDT
The Miami Heat gave one of the first surprises of the playoffs after winning 111-101 against the Boston Celtics. The team made 23 three-pointers and without Jimmy Butler, its biggest star.
Erik Spoelstra’s men stood out with an astonishing 53% three-point shooting and set their new playoff record for three-pointers.
The Heat, who silenced TD Garden last year with a big victory in Game 7 of the conference finals, will return to Miami with a 1-1 tie in the series, which will have its next two chapters in Florida this Saturday and Monday.
The Heat’s starting quintet finished with double figures and three players surpassed 20 points. Tyler Herro was the leading scorer with 24 points and six triples, in addition to distributing fourteen assists.
Mexican Jaime Jáquez Jr. scored 14 points and also contributed three triples. In addition, Caleb Martin contributed 21 with five triples and Bam Adebayo had a double double of 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Miami Heat annulled Kristaps Porzingis
To the rain of triples, The Heat added a tremendous defensive effort that completely nullified the Latvian Kristaps Porzingiswho did not exceed six points and eight rebounds, with one of nine field goals.
The Celtics reached the playoffs with an extraordinary record of 64-18 in the regular season and 37-4 at the Gardenbut they crashed this Wednesday due to Spoelstra’s approach.
Boston’s team now has seven losses in its last eleven postseason games played at home.
Jaylen Brown was the leading scorer with 33 points and Jayson Tatum scored 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but the Celtics suffered against the Heat who punished by relying on Adebayo in the post and converting with astonishing ease from the free throw line.
The Celtics went from the 22 triples with which they crushed the Heat in the first game to a modest 12 of 32 tonight at the Garden.
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