In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night, Jimmy Butler scored 35 points, including 20 after halftime, and the Miami Heat rallied to defeat the Boston Celtics 123-116.
After taking a nine-point halftime lead, Miami turned the tide by scoring a franchise playoff record 46 points in the third quarter and outscoring Boston 66-50 over the next two periods. It was Butler’s fifth postseason game with at least 30 points, and he also had seven assists, six steals, and five rebounds.
“One of the premier two-way basketball players of this association. … That’s what we needed.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Down the stretch Jimmy was able to do everything we needed – as a scorer and as a facilitator.”
20 points and eight rebounds came from Bam Adebayo. Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent and Max Strus all additional 15 focuses each. The Intensity went 16 of 31 from the 3-point line.
The No. The eighth-seeded Heat have won their first three playoff series on the road. Friday is Game 2 in Boston.
The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum, who scored 30 points, but he did not make a shot in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown had 22 points and nine rebounds for the game. 19 points were scored by Malcolm Brogdon.
The Celtics shot 10 of 29 from beyond the arc, showing that they are at their best when they defend and score more points than their opponents.
Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Celtics stated, “We lost our offensive purpose.”
The Heat and Celtics met in the conference finals for the third time in four seasons when the series began on Wednesday. Boston won last year’s matchup in seven games.
The first meeting on Wednesday felt like a continuation of the previous one. In the first half, Boston led by nine points and enjoyed inside dominance.
Spoelstra said that during the final 24 minutes, his team was “more intentional.”
Miami took a page from the Celtics and went on a 13-1 run to close the gap quickly. In the third quarter, Butler penetrated to create opportunities for his teammates, and Miami got back in front.
The TD Garden crowd booed as the Heat outscored the Celtics 46-25 in the period and took a 103-91 lead into the fourth.
Before Vincent’s three-pointer ended the run, Boston responded by scoring the final seven points.
Miami drove 114-109 with a little more than three minutes to play when Brogdon was fouled by Steward. In any case, he associated on only 1 of the 2 free tosses. On Miami’s next possession, Butler was trapped before finding Martin for a corner 3.
The ball was returned to the Heat by Tatum as he traveled. Boston received the ball after Miami missed, but Tatum was penalized once more for traveling.
Miami wound the shot clock down prior to getting a 3-pointer by Head servant to shake in with 1:03 excess.
Butler scored 12 first-quarter points as a result of the Celtics allowing Butler to break free early.
Boston’s safeguard fixed in the second and Head servant didn’t make one more effort until the 5:45 imprint, an airball bringing about a shot clock infringement. His second endeavor of the quarter a couple of moments later had a similar outcome. He had 15 points going into the intermission.
Meanwhile, the Celtics went after the Heat’s rim, outscoring them 40-16 in the paint in the first 24 minutes, which was Miami’s most allowed in a half this season. Additionally, Boston led in second-chance points by 11-2.
TIP-INS
Heat: Miami’s past high in the end of the season games was 43 focuses against Charlotte in 2016. … Lowry hit 5 of his initial 6 shots, scoring 13 focuses in his initial nine minutes of activity. … In the first quarter, Butler (12) and Adebayo (6) scored 18 of Miami’s 28 points together. This is the seventh time this postseason that Butler has scored more than 20 points in the first half.
Celtics: Marcus Smart had 13 points and 11 assists for the game. 66-57 at the half. Boston outscored Miami 19-10 in the final 5:26 of the half with the score tied at 47… Brown wore his dark defensive cover subsequent to doing without it for the last two rounds of their elimination rounds matchup with the 76ers. He broke a facial bone late in the ordinary season. … Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, was in attendance.