Celtics survive late Heat rally, win 110-106

The Boston Celtics (41-12) swept the season sequence in opposition to the Miami Warmth (28-25) with a 110-106 victory. A recreation that the Celtics managed for 80% of the sport, shortly become what appeared like a playoff recreation.

Jayson Tatum (26 factors) and Kristaps Porzingis (25 factors) led the best way for Boston.

Within the first quarter, as soon as Tatum exited the sport, it was The Porzingis Present. Just like what the Celtics did in opposition to the Wizards, Boston exploited the dimensions mismatch at any time when a Warmth participant switched onto Porzingis. Porzingis performed all the first quarter, scoring 11 factors and grabbing six rebounds on 5-of-8 taking pictures. Whether or not it was from the surface or being the weak facet cutter, Porzingis was in his bag early.

The Celtics performed with nice ball motion which created open photographs for Boston. Within the second quarter, Jrue Vacation helped gasoline an 8-0 run with two threes.

The Celtics impacted the sport on either side of the ground, constantly getting again after a turnover. Al Horford and Derrick White each registering a block in transition.

Miami didn’t exit with out a struggle, as Terry Rozier and Bam Adebayo saved their ship afloat as they each scored 11 factors every within the first half. The Warmth trailed 59-50 at halftime.

To start out the third quarter, Porzingis and Tatum continued to dominate mismatches. Tatum, who scored 14 earlier than halftime, scored 4 straight factors earlier than feeding the large man for the emphatic slam. The 8-0 run gave Boston a 15-point (67-52) benefit, resulting in a Warmth timeout.

Regardless of having the momentum, Miami answered with a 13-2 run with 7:21 left within the third, to get the sport again to a four-point recreation, highlighted by Tyler Herro’s back-to-back threes.

Sadly for each groups, each suffered accidents within the third quarter. Porzingis (low again contusion) went to the locker room, however the Celtics employees determined he was good to return. For the Warmth, Rozier needed to go away the sport after taking a tough fall and grabbing his proper leg. Rozier was unable to shoot the free throws, so his night time ended early with just below 5 minutes left of the third quarter. Rozier’s departure was Miami’s second of the sport as Josh Richardson left within the first half with a proper shoulder harm.

With the Warmth surging and the group moving into it, Vacation stepped up with two large threes late within the quarter to maintain Boston forward. Boston took an 86-79 lead into the fourth quarter.

Issues received chippy within the fourth quarter when Jaylen Brown obtained a technical foul for chucking Duncan Robinson to the ground after Robinson and Brown’s arms had been tangled. The technical foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 after evaluation.

After the free throws, Miami trailed 96-89 with 7:50 left.

The sport instantly began to have a playoff really feel, one thing Boston didn’t want as they had been controlling a lot of the recreation. From rushed photographs and dangerous turnovers, the C’s lead was reduce to 5 factors with 5:06 remaining.

Tyler Herro with two deep threes received the sport to 2 106-104 with 1:48 remaining.

Porzingis, who was quiet since he returned within the fourth quarter, got here up with a giant defensive rebound resulting in a foul. The massive artificial them each to get the lead again to a two-possession recreation.

When the sport mattered most, the Celtics turned up its protection and compelled two large misses. Then with the time operating down after Brown missed a nook three, Porzingis tipped the offensive rebound again out permitting Jaylen Brown to reserve it earlier than Joe Mazzulla known as a timeout with 15.7 seconds remaining.

Out of the timeout, Tatum received the ball and knocked down each free throws to offer Boston a 110-104 lead with 14 seconds left. After a Herro layup, the Celtics ran out the clock giving them win quantity 41 on the 12 months.

The Celtics will journey to Brooklyn on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. recreation in opposition to the Nets.