Celtics-Warmth takeaways: Miami catches fireplace from 3 to even collection initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
BOSTON — The Miami Warmth gave the Boston Celtics a style of their very own medication in Sport 2 of their first-round playoff collection at TD Backyard.
After permitting 22 3-pointers within the Celtics’ wire-to-wire Sport 1 win, the Warmth one-upped Boston in Wednesday’s showdown. They torched the C’s from deep early and sometimes, drilling eight 3-pointers within the first quarter and surpassing their season-high with 13 3s within the first half.
The Celtics nonetheless led by three on the halfway level, however Miami’s 3s saved falling when Boston’s offense fell flat. The outcome was a 111-101 Warmth win to tie the collection at one sport apiece because it shifts to South Seashore.
All 5 Warmth starters scored in double figures with Tyler Herro main the best way with 24 factors. Bam Adebayo and Caleb Martin added 21 factors apiece.
Jaylen Brown (33) and Jayson Tatum (28) mixed for 61 of the Celtics’ 101 factors. Derrick White (13 factors) was the one different C’s participant to succeed in double digits.
Tip-off for Sport 3 is ready for six p.m. ET on Saturday with Mike Gorman and Brian Scalabrine on the decision for NBC Sports activities Boston. Protection begins at 5 p.m. with Celtics Pregame Dwell.
Earlier than we sit up for that matchup, listed below are three takeaways from Sport 2.
C’s survive Miami’s finest from deep
The Celtics thrived on 3-pointers in Sport 1, tying a franchise playoff report with 22 makes from past the arc. That they had 12 extra 3-point makes an attempt than Miami, and that proved to be the distinction of their dominant 114-94 win.
The Warmth took a web page out of the C’s playbook in Sport 2. They caught fireplace from deep early, going 8-for-15 within the first quarter. That tied their highest variety of 3-point makes an attempt in 1 / 4 this season and tied their franchise playoff report for makes in 1 / 4. Their 13 first-half 3-pointers topped their complete from Sport 1 (12).
One way or the other, Boston nonetheless discovered itself up three on the half amid Miami’s 3-point barrage. However when the Celtics offense went chilly within the second half, the Warmth took benefit.
Miami completed 23-of-43 (53.5 p.c) from lengthy vary to tie its franchise report for 3s made in a playoff sport. It topped its regular-season excessive of 21 3-pointers.
The Warmth’s 23 3-pointers marked probably the most ever allowed within the playoffs by Boston. The Celtics, in the meantime, have been a modest 12-of-32 (37.5 p.c) from deep.
Scorching 3-point taking pictures has grow to be a development for Miami within the playoffs vs. Boston. Erik Spoelstra’s staff shot over 50 p.c from 3 in three Japanese Convention Finals video games final 12 months.
The Jays cannot carry the load
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown did their half to maintain this sport shut. Sadly for Boston, it was a tough evening for the supporting forged.
In Sport 1, Tatum notched the primary triple-double of his postseason profession with a team-high 23 factors regardless of a less-than-stellar taking pictures efficiency. He improved in that division in Sport 2.
Tatum was sizzling from the opening tip, tallying 10 factors within the first 5 minutes and ending the body with 14 of Boston’s 27 factors. He matched his profession playoff-high for factors in a primary quarter whereas taking pictures 5-of-6 from the sphere.
Tatum completed with 28 factors (18 within the first half) on 10-of-20 taking pictures (2-6 3-PT). He added eight rebounds and three assists.
Brown was the important thing to Boston surviving Miami’s first-half 3s. He erupted for 21 factors (9-15 FG, 3-6 3-PT) by the primary two frames, together with 11 within the last two minutes of the half to place the C’s up three.
Brown ended up with a game-high 33 factors (13-23 FG) and eight boards in a dropping effort. It merely wasn’t sufficient to make up for what Boston lacked elsewhere within the lineup.
This was an evening to neglect for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Vacation. The duo totaled 15 factors on a woeful 5-for-21 from the sphere (1-8 3-PT). Porzingis additionally earned three fouls within the first half.
The following highest Celtics scorer after Brown and Tatum was Derrick White (13 factors), although he did most of his injury within the fourth quarter with beneath 5 minutes to go. By then it was too little, too late.
The C’s will want bounce-back performances from Porzingis and Vacation on Saturday. In any other case, Miami may begin to take management of this collection.
Caleb Martin embraces the villain position
Martin predictably was public enemy No. 1 at TD Backyard after his controversial Sport 1 foul on Tatum. He was booed loudly every time he touched the ball and there was even a quick “f— you, Caleb!’ chant from the rafters.
The noise did not seem to faze the Warmth ahead. He reverted to his 2023 Japanese Convention Finals self, dropping 21 factors (7-12 FG) whereas making 5 of his six 3s.
Martin’s efficiency, and Miami’s total output from 3-point vary, was paying homage to final 12 months’s letdown playoff collection for Boston. The Celtics will hope to keep away from the same outcome this 12 months, beginning with a bounce-back efficiency Saturday in South Seashore.
