Game ID: 42300101
Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics
Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 26 34 31 23 114MIA 21 24 14 35 94
BOS vs MIA ScoutingBOS vs MIA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 8 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Brissett back 4/01 after 2, 8 min since (77% of 10)
BOS availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 9 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Brissett back 4/01 after 2, 8 min since (74% of 10)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Hauser 21 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/12 · back-to-backOUT Queta missed 10 since 3/23, returns tonight: 18 min (160% of 11)
NEW Hauser 21 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restBACK Queta back 4/12 after 10, 18 min since (160% of 11)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Hauser 21 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/21 · 6 days' restOUT Tatum missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 41 min (112% of 37)
OUT Brown missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 34 min (100% of 34)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 34 min (99% of 34)
OUT White missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 34 min (101% of 33)
OUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 34 min (118% of 29)
OUT Horford missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 26 min (93% of 28)
BACK Queta back 4/12 after 10, 19 min since (167% of 11)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Hauser 21 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/24 · 2 days' restBACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 41 min since (112% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (101% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (118% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 26 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Queta back 4/12 after 10, 19 min since (167% of 11)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Hauser 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Kornet 15 to 20 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 4/27 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 4/21, returns tonight: 5 min (36% of 15)
OUT Tillman missed 2 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Queta missed 2 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 4/21, returns tonight: 1 min (13% of 10)
BACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 41 min since (112% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (105% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 32 min since (110% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 25 min since (89% of 28)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/29 · 1 day's restOUT Tillman missed 3 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Queta missed 3 since 4/21, out tonight
BACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 40 min since (110% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 33 min since (101% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 30 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 5 min since (36% of 15)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 1 min since (13% of 10)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 5/01 · 1 day's restOUT Tillman missed 4 since 4/21, returns tonight: 7 min (58% of 12)
OUT Queta missed 4 since 4/21, out tonight
BACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 40 min since (108% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 35 min since (106% of 33)
BACK Porziņģis back 4/21 after 2, 26 min since (90% of 29)
BACK Horford back 4/21 after 2, 26 min since (95% of 28)
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 4 min since (29% of 15)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 1 min since (13% of 10)
MIA availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Richardson missed 25 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 4 since 4/02, returns tonight: 21 min (95% of 22)
OUT Mills missed 5 since 3/31, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 4 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Herro back 4/05 after 20, 28 min since (83% of 34)
BACK Robinson back 3/31 after 5, 22 min since (82% of 27)
BACK Love back 4/02 after 16, 14 min since (89% of 16)
BACK Cain back 4/05 after 2, 2 min since (15% of 10)
NEW Highsmith 21 to 26 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Richardson missed 26 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 6 since 3/31, returns tonight: 11 min (68% of 17)
OUT Bryant missed 5 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 4/07, returns tonight: 1 min (11% of 10)
BACK Herro back 4/05 after 20, 35 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Wright back 4/09 after 4, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Love back 4/02 after 16, 12 min since (78% of 16)
NEW Highsmith 21 to 28 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Rozier missed 2 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 2 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 27 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 6 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Herro back 4/05 after 20, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Wright back 4/09 after 4, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Mills back 4/10 after 6, 11 min since (68% of 17)
BACK Cain back 4/05 after 2, 1 min since (13% of 10)
NEW Highsmith 21 to 27 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restOUT Rozier missed 3 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 3 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 28 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 7 since 4/02, returns tonight: 23 min (203% of 12)
BACK Herro back 4/05 after 20, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Wright back 4/09 after 4, 20 min since (91% of 22)
BACK Mills back 4/10 after 6, 11 min since (68% of 17)
BACK Cain back 4/05 after 2, 1 min since (12% of 10)
NEW Highsmith 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Jović 20 to 26 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 4/21 · 6 days' restOUT Rozier missed 4 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 4 since 4/09, returns tonight: 15 min (56% of 27)
OUT Richardson missed 29 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK Wright back 4/09 after 4, 23 min since (104% of 22)
BACK Mills back 4/10 after 6, 10 min since (58% of 17)
BACK Bryant back 4/14 after 7, 23 min since (203% of 12)
BACK Cain back 4/10 after 2, 1 min since (14% of 10)
NEW Jović 20 to 26 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 4/24 · 2 days' restOUT Rozier missed 5 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 30 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 4/21 after 4, 15 min since (56% of 27)
BACK Wright back 4/09 after 4, 23 min since (107% of 22)
BACK Mills back 4/10 after 6, 10 min since (58% of 17)
BACK Bryant back 4/14 after 7, 23 min since (203% of 12)
BACK Cain back 4/10 after 2, 1 min since (14% of 10)
NEW Highsmith 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Jović 20 to 26 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 4/27 · 2 days' restOUT Butler III missed 2 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Rozier missed 6 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 31 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 2 since 4/21, returns tonight: 12 min (72% of 17)
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 4/21, returns tonight: 6 min (50% of 12)
BACK Robinson back 4/21 after 4, 16 min since (59% of 27)
BACK Cain back 4/10 after 2, 1 min since (14% of 10)
MIA availability going into 4/29 · 1 day's restOUT Butler III missed 3 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Rozier missed 7 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 32 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 4/21 after 4, 13 min since (49% of 27)
BACK Mills back 4/27 after 2, 12 min since (72% of 17)
BACK Bryant back 4/14 after 7, 15 min since (127% of 12)
NEW Highsmith 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Jović 20 to 25 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 5/01 · 1 day's restOUT Butler III missed 4 since 4/21, out tonight
OUT Rozier missed 8 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 33 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 4/21 after 4, 11 min since (39% of 27)
BACK Mills back 4/27 after 2, 17 min since (102% of 17)
BACK Bryant back 4/14 after 7, 15 min since (127% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 13 free throws a game; Pritchard at 22 and Brown at 18 a game. Without Tatum (2 straight), Brown (2 straight), Holiday (2 straight). 6 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Herro at 22 and Butler III at 19 a game. Without Rozier (4 straight), Robinson (4 straight), Richardson (29 straight). 6 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 22 free throws a game to Boston's 13. Call it Boston 115, Miami 109.
4/09 @ MIL 91-104 — BOS notes
BOS lost 91-104. BOS took 12 more shots (93 to 81), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to MIL's 53%, 17 of 52 from three. The glass went 38-49 against them. Tatum led with 22 (9 of 19, 4 of 9 from three); Brown added 14, Holiday 12. Q3 was theirs, 24-15, the deficit cut from 20 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 89-67 against them. Tillman's -15 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/11 vs NYK 109-118 — BOS notes
BOS lost 109-118. BOS shot 47% (40 of 86) to NYK's 49%, 16 of 42 from three, and went to the line 16 times to NYK's 10 — 13 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 36-52 against them. Tatum led with 18 (5 of 13, 1 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Pritchard added 16, Brown 15. Q4 was theirs, 38-18, the deficit cut from 29 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 100-71 against them. Tatum's -30 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 vs CHA 131-98 — BOS notes
BOS won 131-98. BOS shot 52% (54 of 104) to CHA's 42%, 14 of 41 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CHA's 22. BOS turned it over 6 times to CHA's 19. The glass went 53-33 for them. Pritchard led with 31 (14 of 22, 3 of 8 from three); Hauser added 16, Kornet 16. The hinge was Q2, 39-19: a lead of 6 became 26, and the lead reached 35. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
4/14 vs WAS 132-122 — BOS notes
BOS won 132-122. BOS shot 57% (51 of 89) to WAS's 48%, 16 of 32 from three, and went to the line 21 times to WAS's 10 — 14 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 48-36 for them. Pritchard led with 38 (15 of 21, 4 of 6 from three); Mykhailiuk added 26, Queta 19. The hinge was Q3, 38-30: a lead of 10 became 18, and the lead reached 24. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
4/21 vs MIA 114-94 — BOS notes
BOS won 114-94. BOS shot 48% (39 of 82) to MIA's 47%, 22 of 49 from three, and went to the line 16 times to MIA's 6 — 14 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 44-34 for them. Tatum led with 23 (7 of 18, 1 of 8 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); White added 20, Porziņģis 18. The hinge was Q3, 31-14: a lead of 15 became 32. White was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
4/24 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 13 free throws a game; Tatum at 21 and Pritchard at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Herro at 20 and Butler III at 16 a game. Without Rozier (5 straight), Richardson (30 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-3 a night and Miami minus-3. Call it Boston 114, Miami 108.
4/27 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Herro at 18 and Adebayo at 18 a game. Without Butler III (2 straight), Rozier (6 straight), Richardson (31 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 23 and Brown at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Miami minus-0. Call it Boston 112, Miami 110, Miami keeping it close.
4/29 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Adebayo at 20 and Herro at 17 a game. Without Butler III (3 straight), Rozier (7 straight), Richardson (32 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Brown at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-10 a night and Miami minus-3. Call it Boston 111, Miami 108, Miami keeping it close.
5/01 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 23 and Brown at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 14 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 17 a game. Without Butler III (4 straight), Rozier (8 straight), Richardson (33 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and Miami minus-3 and the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Miami's 35. Call it Boston 112, Miami 103.
4/09 @ ATL 117-111 — MIA notes
MIA won 117-111 in 2 overtimes. MIA shot 48% (42 of 88) to ATL's 40%, 18 of 45 from three, and went to the line 21 times to ATL's 14 — 15 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 46-59 against them. Herro led with 33 (13 of 25, 4 of 13 from three); Butler III added 25, Jović 23. The hinge was Q2, 29-20: a lead of 3 became 12, and the lead reached 15. Herro was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
4/10 vs DAL 92-111 — MIA notes
MIA lost 92-111. MIA shot 41% (33 of 81) to DAL's 49%, 13 of 30 from three. MIA turned it over 15 times to DAL's 7, and DAL turned those into 8 steals. Herro led with 21 (6 of 15, 2 of 5 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Love added 16, Martin 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-19, the deficit cut from 22 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 92-65 against them. Adebayo's -20 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 vs TOR 125-103 — MIA notes
MIA won 125-103. MIA shot 52% (45 of 86) to TOR's 48%, 17 of 41 from three. MIA turned it over 4 times to TOR's 17. Jović led with 22 (9 of 18, 4 of 10 from three); Jaquez Jr. added 20, Adebayo 19. The hinge was Q1, 33-22: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Jaquez Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
4/14 vs TOR 118-103 — MIA notes
MIA won 118-103. MIA shot 53% (46 of 87) to TOR's 42%, 9 of 36 from three. Jaquez Jr. led with 18 (6 of 12, 0 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Bryant added 18, Herro 17. The hinge was Q2, 43-22: from level to 21 ahead, and the lead reached 30. Jaquez Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
4/21 @ BOS 94-114 — MIA notes
MIA lost 94-114. MIA shot 47% (38 of 81) to BOS's 48%, 12 of 37 from three, and got to the line 6 times to BOS's 16. The glass went 34-44 against them. Adebayo led with 24 (10 of 18); Wright added 17, Jaquez Jr. 16. Q4 was theirs, 35-23, the deficit cut from 32 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 91-59 against them. Jović's -25 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/24 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 13 free throws a game; Tatum at 21 and Pritchard at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Herro at 20 and Butler III at 16 a game. Without Rozier (5 straight), Richardson (30 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-3 a night and Miami minus-3. Call it Boston 114, Miami 108.
4/27 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Herro at 18 and Adebayo at 18 a game. Without Butler III (2 straight), Rozier (6 straight), Richardson (31 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 23 and Brown at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Miami minus-0. Call it Boston 112, Miami 110, Miami keeping it close.
4/29 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Adebayo at 20 and Herro at 17 a game. Without Butler III (3 straight), Rozier (7 straight), Richardson (32 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Brown at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-10 a night and Miami minus-3. Call it Boston 111, Miami 108, Miami keeping it close.
5/01 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 23 and Brown at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 14 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 17 a game. Without Butler III (4 straight), Rozier (8 straight), Richardson (33 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and Miami minus-3 and the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Miami's 35. Call it Boston 112, Miami 103.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
MIABA B. Adebayo
CM C. Martin
DR D. Robinson
DW D. Wright
HH H. Highsmith
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
KL K. Love
NJ N. Jović
TH T. Herro
BOS/MIA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jayson Tatum triple-double, 3s lead Celtics past Butler-less Heat 114-94 in playoff opener
BOSTON -- — The Celtics spent the days leading up to their playoff matchup with Miami talking about wanting to match the physicality of a team that would be looking for an edge without star Jimmy Butler .
Boston did that and then some.
Jayson Tatum notched his first career playoff triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Boston past the Miami Heat 114-94 on Sunday to open their first-round playoff series.
Derrick White added 20 points and four assists for Boston, which finished with six players in double-figures. The Celtics’ lead grew as high as 34 points in the fourth quarter. Miami used a late run to get as close as 14, but Boston closed it out.
“It’s supposed to be tough. In the playoffs no game is easy," Tatum said. "There’s no guaranteed wins regardless of time and score, how much time is left. ... We just had to respond and we did that.”
Miami spoiled the Celtics’ NBA finals dreams last season, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the conference finals and then blowing them out in Boston in Game 7.
But Boston fed off the energy of the TD Garden crowd on Sunday, tying a franchise playoff record with 22 3-pointers and outscoring the Heat 31-14 in the third quarter.
“There was a four or five-minute stretch when we didn't handle it well, but I think the other 42-43 minutes — that's the recipe," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Including the regular season, Boston is 38-4 at home and has won its past four meetings with the Heat.
Bam Adebayo scored 24 points for the Miami, which played for the second straight game without star Butler following his right knee injury during the play-in round. Terry Rozier also remained out with a neck injury. Delon Wright added 17 points and tied a career-high with five 3s. Jaime Jaquez Jr . finished with 16 points. Tyler Herro had 11 points, but shot just 4 of 13 from the field, including 2 of 9 from beyond the arc.
“Applying pressure and making things difficult, not really allowing me to get comfortable really from the beginning,” Herro said. “It's one game. We're going to leave it behind us and keep it moving.”
Game 2 is Wednesday in Boston.
Tempers flared in the final minute when Caleb Martin undercut Tatum on a rebound attempt and sent him crashing hard to floor. Brown got in Martin’s face afterward, leading to a brief scrum and double technical fouls on Brown and Martin.
“It’s a physical game playing against a physical team. (Stuff is) going to happen," Tatum said. "It’s probably not the last time I’m gong to get hit like that, or fouled in this series. I wasn’t hurt to get hit like that. Just get up. ... Just go down there and knock the free throws down.”
Miami was pushed around for most of the game, notably limited to just five offensive rebounds.
That set tone, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
“Boston controlled this game from the tip,” he said. “They won the big muscle areas. Definitely won the 3-point line and the majority of the areas in between.”
Boston didn’t have reserve big man Luke Kornet after he strained his right calf in practice on Saturday. But the Celtics’ bench stepped up without him, contributing 30 points.
Sunday’s game had a completely different feel without Butler, whose postseason heroics keyed Miami’s run from play-in qualifier to the NBA finals a year ago.
Boston beat the Heat in all three regular-season meetings this season, including a 33-point drubbing in Miami.
Sunday’s game resembled that one, with the Celtics jumping on the Heat from the opening tap.
On the first possession of the game Tatum was stripped at the last second on a dunk attempt but corralled the loose ball and found Brown for a 3-pointer.
After a Miami miss, Brown followed that up with a drive and spin move past Jaquez Jr. for a two-handed dunk .
It was part of a 17-2 run by the Celtics over the first three-plus minutes. Miami started by missing its first four shots before Adebayo’s short jumper finally got the Heat on the scoreboard.