NBA Eastern Finals: The Celtics crushed Miami on the road and tied the series 1-1

The Boston Celtics crushed the Miami Heat 127-102 on Thursday as a guest and tied the game 1-1. Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA, after a 118-107 defeat in the first game of the series.

It was the first loss Miami has suffered at home in the entire playoff period. One of the great ones responsible for the final result is Jayson Tatumwho scored 17 of his total of 27 points in the second quarter alone.

Marcus Smart he was also one of the keys to the Celtics’ success. With intense intensity on both ends of the floor, he signed one of the best performances of his career: 24 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists and 3 steals.

Smart, due to sprain, and Dominican Al Horford, due to protocol against coronavirus, were two sensitive casualties in Boston’s first defeat on Tuesday. “I feel bad because I can’t be with my teammates. It’s a blessing to be with them on the path and fight with a very good team like Miami,” said Smart, who was selected this season as the Best Defensive Player in the NBA.

For its part, Jimmy ButlerSi, who closed out his roster with 29 points, was one of the few Miami players to resist the Boston team’s forced performance. “I don’t want to open the page, it hurts,” Butler complained to the press. And he admitted: “They tried to embarrass us and they did“.

“They made baskets that failed in the first game. They were the most physical team and got the win away from homeButler added.

In addition, he criticized himself in his role as playmaker before veteran Kyle Lowry was injured: “I think I’m a little selfish in attack. I need to involve my teammates more, when they is scored and the more aggressive we are the better.

The Celtics entered the break with 70 points recorded, theirs Most away in a playoff first half since 1972. Around the locker room, and with a 25-point deficit, the only Heat player to react was Butler, who finished just 41 points on Tuesday.

The shooting guard tried to lead the fight adding 16 points in the third quarter. A) Yes, Miami cut the deficit to 18 points. However, at that time Celtics coach Ime Udoka stopped the momentum with a timeout and his managers regained control.

Center Bam Adebayo (6 points and 9 rebounds) and shooting guard Tyler Herro (11 points), Butler’s usual offensive allies, are vague, while alternatives from the substitute bench, such as Victor Oladipo or Duncan Robinson, does not change either. of against.

In the middle of the last quarter most Heat fans left their seats seeing that the Celtics had a 31-point lead.

“This only counts as one game. We don’t like it. We have to figure some things out. When you get to this stage there are only very good teams, not a lot of weaknesses,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged.

Boston will now have a home-court advantage over the next two games of the series, starting in Game 3 on Saturday at TD Garden.

The winner of this series will face the Dallas Mavericks or the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, which will dominate the West playoff game 1-0.

With information from the AFP

DB