Boston, MA——The Celtics entered their playoff clash with the Miami Heat with a clear focus: matching and surpassing Miami’s renowned physicality, especially in the absence of star Jimmy Butler. They more than met that challenge, demonstrating dominance from start to finish.
Jayson Tatum spearheaded Boston’s charge, securing his inaugural playoff triple-double with 23 points, 10 boards, and 10 assists, guiding the Celtics to a commanding 114-94 victory in the opening game of their first-round playoff series. Derrick White chipped in with 20 points and four assists, complementing a balanced scoring effort from six Celtics players in double figures. Despite Miami’s late surge narrowing the gap to 14 points, Boston maintained composure to seal the win.
Tatum emphasized the expected toughness of playoff basketball, stressing the need for relentless response to adversity, a sentiment echoed by the entire team. The Celtics, fueled by the fervent TD Garden crowd, equaled a franchise playoff record with 22 three-pointers, dominating the Heat with a resounding 31-14 third-quarter scoring advantage.
Boston’s coach Joe Mazzulla praised his team’s resilience and execution, attributing their success to a well-executed game plan. Boston’s formidable home record continued, now standing at 38-4 including the regular season, with victories in their last four encounters against the Heat.
Despite Miami’s efforts, including a 24-point performance from Bam Adebayo, the absence of Butler and Terry Rozier due to injury hindered their momentum. Delon Wright’s 17 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 16 points provided support, but Miami struggled to match Boston’s intensity, particularly on the offensive glass.
The physicality of the game escalated in the final minutes, exemplified by a confrontation between Caleb Martin and Tatum, resulting in double technical fouls. Tatum brushed off the incident, emphasizing the inevitability of such challenges in playoff basketball.
Miami’s head coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged Boston’s control throughout the contest, conceding the Celtics’ superiority in various facets of play, including rebounding and three-point shooting.
Boston’s victory showcased their depth and resilience, compensating for the absence of key players like Luke Kornet. With Game 2 looming, both teams brace for continued intensity as the series unfolds.
