In an Eastern Conference finals rematch, the Boston Celtics thoroughly embarrassed the struggling Miami Heat with a commanding 143-110 victory on Thursday night.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics’ offensive charge with 26 points, while Kristaps Porzingis contributed 19 points before sustaining a left ankle sprain. Boston displayed their prowess from beyond the arc, making 22 three-pointers during the game.
Jaylen Brown added 18 points to the Celtics’ tally, followed by Jrue Holiday with 17 and Derrick White with 15. The victory improved the NBA-leading Celtics’ record to 35-10 and marked their second win this season against the team that defeated them in last season’s Eastern Conference finals.
The 143 points scored by Boston represented the highest-ever point total they had managed against the Miami Heat, with the game concluding in a 33-point margin, marking the most significant win by the Celtics over the Heat in their 172 meetings, including playoffs. The previous highest points total for Boston against Miami was a 139-118 victory on April 12, 1990.
Exceptional shooting proficiency
Boston exhibited exceptional shooting proficiency, registering a 64% field goal percentage, and dominated the boards with a 47-31 rebounding advantage.
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each contributed 19 points for the struggling Miami Heat, while Jimmy Butler added 17. The Heat suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, marking their longest losing streak since March 2021.
The odds were against the Heat as they were 8 1/2-point underdogs at game time, an uncommon situation for a team playing at home. The last time the Heat faced such odds on their home court was on February 27, 2019, when they were underdogs by 9 1/2 points, ultimately winning 126-125 against Golden State. However, this game had an entirely different outcome.
Heat’s defensive struggles continued
Boston took control early, embarking on an 18-7 run during the opening quarter to establish a commanding 40-25 lead. They maintained their dominance throughout the game and led 77-64 at halftime.
The Heat’s defensive struggles continued as they conceded an average of 110.5 points per game this season, and by the end of the third quarter, Boston had already scored 111 points, entering the final period with a comfortable 113-90 lead. This marked only the fourth time in Heat history, including playoffs, that they allowed so many points in the first 36 minutes of a game.
Miami’s recent performances have been marred by substantial deficits, with the Celtics holding a lead of 34 points at their largest during the game. In their last five games, Miami has trailed by at least 24 points, including a 37-point deficit against Toronto on January 17 and a 24-point shortfall against Orlando last Sunday. These three games have become the most lopsided losses for the Heat this season.
