Game ID: 42300103
Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat
Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 6:00 PM ET
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIA 12 27 22 23 84BOS 21 42 24 17 104
BOS @ MIA ScoutingBOS @ 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.
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)
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)
BOS availability going into 5/07 · 5 days' restOUT Queta missed 5 since 4/21, returns tonight: 3 min (27% of 11)
BACK Tatum back 4/21 after 2, 38 min since (104% of 37)
BACK Brown back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 4/21 after 2, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK White back 4/21 after 2, 34 min since (102% 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 (93% of 28)
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 9 min since (61% of 15)
BACK Tillman back 5/01 after 4, 7 min since (58% of 12)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 3 min since (32% of 10)
BOS availability going into 5/09 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 5/01, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 4/27 after 2, 12 min since (82% of 15)
BACK Tillman back 5/01 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 12)
BACK Queta back 5/07 after 5, 3 min since (27% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 4/27 after 2, 3 min since (31% of 10)
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.
4/12 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 111-101 — MIA notes
MIA won 111-101. MIA shot 49% (37 of 75) to BOS's 46%, 23 of 43 from three. Herro led with 24 (7 of 13, 6 of 11 from three); Adebayo added 21, Martin 21. The hinge was Q3, 27-18: MIA came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 6. MIA trailed 58-61 at the half and won the second half 53-40. Herro was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/27 vs BOS 84-104 — MIA notes
MIA lost 84-104. MIA shot 42% (32 of 77) to BOS's 48%, 9 of 28 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BOS's 21. MIA turned it over 12 times to BOS's 5. Adebayo led with 20 (8 of 18, 4 of 6 at the line); Jović added 15, Herro 15. Q4 was theirs, 23-17, the deficit cut from 26 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 87-61 against them. Martin's -23 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
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.
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 101-111 — BOS notes
BOS lost 101-111. BOS shot 46% (37 of 80) to MIA's 49%, 12 of 32 from three. Brown led with 33 (13 of 23, 4 of 9 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Tatum added 28, White 13. Q2 was theirs, 34-30, turning a 1-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 81-67 against them. Porziņģis's -32 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/27 @ MIA 104-84 — BOS notes
BOS won 104-84. BOS shot 48% (39 of 82) to MIA's 42%, 11 of 37 from three, and went to the line 21 times to MIA's 14 — 15 points from the stripe to their 11. BOS turned it over 5 times to MIA's 12. Tatum led with 22 (6 of 16, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Brown added 22, Porziņģis 18. The hinge was Q2, 42-27: a lead of 9 became 24, and the lead reached 29. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
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.
5/07 vs CLE — 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 108 a night and allowing 92, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 23 and White at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. 5 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Garland at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Allen (3 straight), Wade (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Cleveland minus-10 and the arc, Boston at 38 percent from three to Cleveland's 29. Call it Boston 112, Cleveland 101, Boston by 11.
5/09 vs CLE — 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 109 a night and allowing 92, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and White at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Porziņģis (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 34 and Garland at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (4 straight), Wade (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Cleveland minus-9 and the defense, Boston allowing 92 a night to Cleveland's 106. Call it Boston 112, Cleveland 102, Boston by 10.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MIABA B. Adebayo
CM C. Martin
DR D. Robinson
HH H. Highsmith
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
JO Jovic
KL K. Love
NJ N. Jović
OR O. Robinson
PM P. Mills
TB T. Bryant
TH T. Herro
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
SM S. Mykhailiuk
MIA/BOS 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
Celtics lead wire-to-wire in Miami, roll past Heat 104-84 for 2-1 lead in East series
MIAMI -- — For two days, the Boston Celtics lamented getting beaten on their home floor. And when they finally got to play again, they let out all the frustration.
The result: a defensive masterpiece.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 22 points to lead a balanced approach, and the Celtics soundly beat the Miami Heat 104-84 on Saturday night to a take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
“We didn't make too many adjustments,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We played a little bit harder, we played harder and we dictated the physicality and the tempo of the game. It's the simple things that you have to do under a high level of stress, high level of adversity. I thought our guys did a great job of dictating that tonight.”
Game 4 is Monday in Miami, where the Celtics are 9-2 in their last 11 games and 6-1 in their last seven playoff games.
Tatum added 10 rebounds and six assists for the Celtics, who led Game 3 wire-to-wire and reclaimed the home-court edge that they lost when Miami won Game 2 in Boston. Kristaps Porzingis had 18 points and Derrick White scored 16 for the Celtics.
The last time either team saw these kind of numbers — Boston on defense, Miami on offense — was Game 5 of the East finals on May 25, 2022, a 93-80 Celtics road win that helped them reach that season’s NBA Finals. The Heat had scored more than 84 points in every game since and the Celtics had allowed more than 84 in every game since.
“That’s where we’re going to win games, on the defensive end,” Tatum said.
Bam Adebayo scored 20 points for eighth-seeded Miami, which remains without starters Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier because of injuries. Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro each scored 15 for the Heat, who got 12 from Jaime Jaquez Jr .
“They took us out of stuff we would like to get to," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They were the more physical team. They bodied us, bullied us on screens, got through stuff, distorted screens, everything. ... You have to credit them for that. They were the more physical team, the team with more physicality and force on both ends of the court.”
Bounce-back efforts have been a trend for Boston this season. The Celtics — the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs — don't lose often, and when they do, they tend to just come out and win their next one. Boston is now 15-4 in the game immediately following a loss this season, its average victory margin in those games 12.2 points.
“Just mindset,” Brown said. “We put an emphasis on defense, trying to make them uncomfortable a little bit ... and I think that opened up the game.”
Boston never trailed in Game 1, a 114-94 win, and never trailed in Game 3 either on its way to beating Miami for the fifth time in six meetings this season. The Celtics led 21-12 after one, setting the tone for how nothing would come easily for the Heat.
Midway through the second quarter, it — briefly — seemed like Miami had weathered the storm. The Heat were making a bit of a run, the building had some life and Herro had a look at a 3-pointer that would have gotten the Heat within 10.
It rimmed out. The storm was not weathered. It was, in fact, just starting.
The Celtics outscored Miami 20-8 in the next 4 ½ minutes to go up 61-36 and the game was really never in doubt again It was 63-39 at the break, Boston dominant in every which way — a 19-2 edge in points off turnovers, a 26-12 scoring edge in the paint, 27-15 in rebounds, 13-6 in assists.
The lead reached 29 in the second half, Miami never getting closer than 18 after halftime.
“From the jump, they were more aggressive than us,” Jovic said. “That shouldn't be happening.”