After a series of 4 defeats, Miami won a 2nd consecutive game tonight. Visiting Boston, Jimmy Butler (24 points at 9/17, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), Kyle Lowry (23 points at 8/16, 8 assists) and Bam Adebayo (17 points at 5/10, 12 rebounds, 8 assists) led the Heat to a 106-98 victory thanks to a strong comeback in the final quarter. It’s a second loss in a row for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum (23 points at 9/17, 5 rebounds, 6 assists) and Jaylen Brown (28 points at 9/22, 10 rebounds, 6 assists), a first since the end of January for them.
Miami got off to the best start (8-3 then 53-52 at the break) in a game that had 9 ties and 16 lead changes in total. The Heat took an 11-point lead at the start of the 3rd quarter, but Boston’s response was violent with a 16-0 to finally lead 83-79 at the start of the last quarter, then 90-85 at 7’40 from the end. Without panicking Miami answered with a 12-3, going ahead 98-93 on a jump shot from Butler. Boston (41.2% on shots once morest 48.1%) returned to 98-96 with less than 3 minutes remaining, then 3 clean possessions followed.
At 1:43, Lowry found Butler in transition for the +6, 102-96. Tatum took an offensive foul on a counterattacking basket behind and Boston then lost the ball on the outbound. Frustrated, Marcus Smart got ejected in stride and Miami, which dominated the 4th quarter 27-15, finished the game on throws. Robert Williams hurt, Grant Williams was propelled into the Celtics’ major five by Ime Udoka. Max Strus signed 14 points at 5/10, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 steals off the bench for the Floridians. Miami (49-28) is 1st in the East ahead of Milwaukee (47-28), Philadelphia (46-29) and Boston (47-30).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mApUeQ-YX9M
