The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in a wild game with 105: 103 and thus took revenge for the elimination in last year’s Conference Finals. Rookie Payton Pritchard was celebrated as the match winner.
Miami Heat (5-3) – Boston Celtics (4-4) 103:105
The 22-year-old scored only 6 points (3/10 FG), including the two most important of the game with 0.2 seconds on the clock. Top scorer of the Celtics was once again Jayson Tatum (27, 10/21 FG), followed by Jaylen Brown (21), who did not have an effective day (8/23 FG). For this he grabbed an additional 12 rebounds. Daniel Theis was the third most successful points collector of his team with 13 points (6/11).
In the heat, Jimmy Butler was the dominant player with 26 points (9/19 FG), 8 rebounds and 3 blocks, Duncan Robinson (16, 5/11 threesome) provided additional scoring. Bam Adebayo almost played a triple-double (15, 8, 10), but remained pale offensively.
For a long time, the rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals last season was on the brink, after both teams did not appear on the court to warm up until twenty minutes before tip-off.
Celtics and Heat publish joint statement
Wir Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN) reported there was a meeting between the Celtic and Heat players in the dressing room, whereupon a joint statement was published. “We play today’s game with a heavy heart after yesterday’s decision in Kenosha and knowing that the protesters in the US Capitol will be treated differently by the political leadership, depending on which side they belong to,” the statement said.
The drastic difference between the way protesters were treated last spring and summer and the support protesters received in the apparently illegal Capitol storm would show “how much more work lies ahead,” it said.
The players play the game to “bring joy to the people”, but will continue to use their platform for a more equal America in the future.
Celtics start hot, heat counter
Even with only a short warm-up phase and kneeling in solidarity with the anthem, the Celtics got off to a red-hot start to the game, transformed 5 of their first 6 attempts from downtown and quickly set themselves apart in double digits. Boston also stayed with his foot on the accelerator and put his game on the heat, which in turn did not have access to the game defensively or offensively.
Although Tatum and Co. cooled noticeably in the second quarter (only one of the next 13 threesomes found his target), they played a strong defense and kept last year’s finals participant with a field throw rate of 35.1 percent at halftime. Only through the free throws did the Heat hold up to some extent (15 of 19). At 53:45 from the Celtics’ point of view, the break finally started.
Changed picture after the break. Two quick three-pointers from Duncan Robinson, who with 95 games is now the fastest player with 300 converted three-pointers, and several successful attacks via Butler gave the Heat the first lead of the game with 7:51 on the clock.
Celtics rookie Pritchard becomes the match winner
At the Celtics, the three-pointers did not want to fall at all and the Celts found it difficult to drive to the basket, which is why the offensive stagnated. With 80:80 it finally went into the last section of the game.
In the last quarter, the game developed into a private duel between Tatum and Butler, neither of which was able to give his team a decisive lead. In the final phase it got hectic.
A stepback three from Tatum via Bam Adebayo and a corner three in the following attack by Brown brought the Celtics into the front with under two minutes and then with +10. Robinson then scored 7 points in 30 seconds and Goran Dragic equalized with a three. In the end, rookie Payton Pritchard was the match winner with a putback.
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