MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler doesn’t like being told he’s a scorer.
–
– – — –
But that term seems more than appropriate. He’s averaging nearly 30 points per game in the postseason, has reached the 40-point mark three times in the last 10 games after not posting a game with those numbers in the regular season since 2017, and has led the Miami Heat to victory over Miami. the Boston Celtics in the first game of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.
– –
Regardless, if someone calls you a “scorer,” you’ll scoff disdainfully.
– –
“I’ve been a quote-unquote scorer at other times in my career, and it didn’t work very well for me,” Butler said.
– –
Things have worked out pretty well so far in the postseason for Butler and the best team in the East in the regular season. The Heat will look to take a 2-0 series lead Thursday night when they again host second-ranked Boston.
– –
It won’t be easy: The Celtics are 3-0 after suffering losses in these playoffs. They’ve earned those “catch-up” wins by an average of 14.7 points, including two on the road.
Boston hopes to have Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart (sprained foot) for Game 2. On Wednesday, he mentioned that his involvement is likely.
The Celtics also did not have the collaboration of Dominican forward Al Horford (COVID health and safety protocol) in the first game. In the best case scenario his condition is in doubt, given the NBA’s rules for him to return.
Also, coach Ime Udoka was sick, with a condition that is not COVID.
“We have a lot of confidence,” Celtics center Daniel Theis said Wednesday at the team meeting for a video session.
Game 1 was a 118-107 loss for the Celtics on Tuesday night, though Boston noted that the combined scores for the first, second and fourth quarters had the Celtics 93, the Heat 79.
A disastrous third quarter made the difference.
It was a 39-14 thrashing of Miami in those 12 minutes, in which Butler scored 17 points, single-handedly outscoring the Celtics and turning the game around. The Heat never saw their lead challenged to less than nine points in the final period.
“Wait until we play better,” said Boston forward Jayson Tatum, who had six turnovers in the third quarter. “I hope to play much better.”
Fuente: Associated Press
–
