Heat stun top-seeded Celtics in play-offs
- Expectations in the NBA postseason are altered as the Heat pull off a surprising upset by defeating the top-seeded Celtics in a playoff match.
The Miami Heat leveled their Eastern Conference play-off matchup with the Boston Celtics by pulling off an upset.
Miami, the underdogs in the series, overcame a 20-point flogging in the opening game to win 111-101 on the road.
With twenty-three three-pointers, the Heat scorched the Celtics, falling two short of the NBA Playoff record.
“Everyone showed up to play,” said Heat leader Tyler Herro, who finished with 24 points.
“Everyone reacted when we lost badly in the first game. All you can ask of a bunch of guys is that.”
All five Heat starters scored in double figures, led by Herro, who drained six three-pointers and threw in 14 assists.
Due to injuries, Miami is without starting center Terry Rozier and standout wing Jimmy Butler. Following Sunday’s 114-94 loss, many predicted the Celtics would complete a four-game sweep.
Caleb Martin, who finished with 21 points, stated, “We knew how many opportunities we had hesitating to shoot the threes in game one, and we had the mentality coming in of just letting it fly.”
“Hunger consumed us. Coming in and attempting to play at the same level is the only way to defeat a squad like that.”
While Jayson Tatum finished with 28 points and Boston’s Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 33, the Celtics were only able to make 12 of their 32 three-point tries.
The third game of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Saturday in Miami.
In other news on Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder asserted a decisive 2-0 lead over the New Orleans Pelicans in their Western Conference play-off series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points to set a record for the most points scored in a postseason game, and the Thunder easily won 124-92.
In New Orleans on Saturday, it is game three.
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