It’s only December, but the playoffs were already smelling for this game between Boston and Miami, two top-place contenders in the Eastern Conference who have met twice in the Conference Finals in the last three seasons. .
The debates were announced more balanced with the return of Jimmy Butler following that of Tyler Herro, ten days earlier. And after losing their first two games of the regular season, the Heat saw themselves attempting a shot at the TD Garden. Mission accomplished!
After an intense but balanced first quarter (27-27), it was Miami that opened the hostilities by overcoming a 9-2 to move up +7 (29-36). To respond to Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry’s heat strokes from a distance or Jimmy Butler’s temperature increase, Boston was then able to count on the outside address of Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Grant Williams to regain the lead at halftime (62-59) .
The fight was fierce on both sides of the floor, but this time it was Boston who managed to gain the upper hand despite the good performance of Jayson Tatum, bathed in fouls. Jaylen Brown was then invaluable in fueling the locals’ 17-2 past. And after his two missiles behind the arc, it was those of Grant Williams who increased the score by bringing the locals to +12 (86-74).
Only the Heat had kept him underfoot and kicked it into high gear as the last act began. With an unsustainable Herro-Adebayo duo, Miami inflicted a sensational 13-0 to regain control of the match (91-96).
This foreshadowed a ‘money-time’ of madness and on this point the two teams did not disappoint! Jayson Tatum and Grant Williams tried everything to try and tip the scales in their favor, but the Floridians struck back every time, with Bam Adebayo first then an imperial Jimmy Butler giving his team a three-point lead with 5 seconds left. from the end (107 -110).
“Jimmy Buckets” could therefore have been the hero of the game if Jaylen Brown hadn’t scored a completely crazy basket with the help of the scoreboard to equalize at the last second and send everyone to overtime (110-110)!
Not enough to discourage Jimmy Butler, who returned coverage with two “clutch” field goals, in traffic then on a step back in front of Al Horford, to finish the job and allow Miami to win 120-116.
WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER
– Money Time, owned by Jimmy Butler. The last time the Heat had won with him in their ranks, it was against Phoenix and thanks to a decisive double Jimmy Butler against Devin Booker in the very last seconds. For his return to the game, “Jimmy Buckets” was once again a “clutch” with two field goals late in the fourth quarter and two more game-winning shots in overtime. The wing had promised that he would come to Boston with fangs. He couldn’t have dreamed of a better comeback.
– The victory of the defense. The Heat turned the tide early in the fourth quarter with their aggressive defense. At the same time, the option chosen by Boston to play with five players around the racket, with Grant Williams on one side and Al Horford on the other, has not paid off. The Celtics have seen their offense freeze too many times, leading to ball losses and poor picks. Whenever the ball moved though, the locals scored or found good positions. Upon arrival, even Jaylen Brown’s push from elsewhere wasn’t enough.
MATCH ACTION
We call it a beautiful prayer! At -3 with just over five seconds to go, while the Heat still have a fault to give and with Jayson Tatum not in great shape, the ball stops in the hands of Jaylen Brown. To avoid a quick foul, JB baits quickly, a full three meters behind the 3-point line. A little push from the board and bingo! A feat unfortunately left unfinished for the Celtics, but the basket deserves a look.
TOP/FLOP
✅ Jimmy Butler. Winning comeback, decisive baskets and victory at the end of the night, Jimmy Butler delighted the TD Garden by finishing with 25 points and 15 rebounds in 35 minutes. Not bad for a rematch.
✅ Tyler Herro. Along with Jimmy Butler, he was the Heat’s leading gunner, the one who kept his people alive when Boston was ahead. A nice 6/10 from 3-point range came to remind the player of his early exploits in the league, against Boston in particular.
✅ Bam Adebayo. He too will have been instrumental in the success snatched in Miami, for his effectiveness near the rim, his impact on both sides of the court and his two-way game with Tyler Herro in particular.
⛔️ Jayson Tatum. A game without, can happen as JT glossed over the start of the season. But tonight, he didn’t want to go. A little embarrassed by fouls coming back from the locker room, he struggled to find the rhythm, as evidenced by his 0/7 from 3-point range.
⛔️ Al Horford. “Big Al” would have liked to celebrate the contract extension with a victory. Not only did Miami win, but the pivot had too little impact on the overall game. He also ate a lot in the end defending himself against Jimmy Butler.
THE FOLLOWING
Boston (18-5): The Celtics have an appointment on the Nets hardwood tomorrow night (midnight).
Miami (11-12): the Heat are expected in Memphis Monday night (2:00).
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