By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Boston Celtics were quick to bounce back in the Eastern Conference finals and handed the Miami Heat a demolition exhibition, 127-102, in the ongoing NBA Playoffs.
After letting their double-digit lead slip away and got stunned in the second half during Game 1, Boston showed no mercy from the get-go and unloaded a barrage of three-point shots to outplay the Heat in four quarters.
The returning Marcus Smart was one of the keys to victory for the Celtics and set the tone early with his efficient scoring while also disrupting Miami’s passing lanes for easy steals.
Smart, who was diagnosed with a sore foot during Game 1, came out with a sense of urgency to finish the ball game with 24 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds, three steals, and a block.
The energy that Miami showed during Game 1 lost a step as they got outscored 70-45 in the opening two quarters.
Aside from Smart’s immediate impact, veteran big man Al Horford also came back after being placed under the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
Horford came up big to avoid a 0-2 hole heading into their home floor and did his thing as Boston’s all-around man, finishing with 10 points, three assists, three rebounds, one steal, and one block.
Jimmy Butler tried to lift the Heat in the third quarter after a quick 11-point explosion and fished for fouls to get to the line but Boston came back right away with their three-point conversions.
PJ Tucker, who was instrumental for the Heat guarding Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Game 1, wasn’t able to return and exited the playing court halfway in the third quarter due to a knee injury.
Miami never cut Boston’s lead to single digits in the whole second half and waved the white flag early in the final canto when head coach Erik Spoelstra decided to bench all of his starters.
The Celtics shot an impressive 50 % from the three-point area, 20/40, a department they led the Heat by a wide margin.
