Home » Sport » NBA Playoffs | The Celtics equalize the tie walking in Miami (series, 1-1; 102-127)

NBA Playoffs | The Celtics equalize the tie walking in Miami (series, 1-1; 102-127)

Marcus Smart in his splendid return (24 points, 9 rebounds and 12 assists), Jayson Tatum (27 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists) and Jaylen Brown (24 points and 8 rebounds) shone in some Celtics far from the doubts and fatigue of his first game of the series (118-107).

Boston melted some Heat that they lost 25 points at the break, that they went down 34 in the last quarter and that they suffered from the great success of the Celtics throughout the game: 51.2% in field goals, 20 of 40 in triples and 21 of 23 from the staff line.

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As if that artillery were not enough, the Celtics they also excelled defensively and held the Heat to a poor 10-of-34 from 3-point range. A fundamental and differential aspect with respect to the first meeting was the turn in the Celtics of the Dominican Al Horford and of Marcus Smartwho were low due to coronavirus and a sprain, respectively.

Smart returned to Boston its characteristic intensity and aggressiveness, and Horford, who in these playoffs is experiencing a second youth, added 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block. On the Heat, Jimmy Butler he was left alone too much in attack (29 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists).

Kyle Lowry was again low in Miami, which also saw how P.J. Tucker He left the track due to a knee injury.

MIRAGE BEFORE THE BEATING

As if they were thrown by the inertia of the first game, the Heat they pulled off a promising +10 in less than five minutes thanks to Tucker’s effort and Strus’s 3-pointers. However, that local boot immediately evaporated.

With a gigantic run of 6-27 to close the first quarter, the Celtics they radically changed the sign of the game with Smart sacrificing himself on both sides of the court, with Brown showing off his chest in attack (11 points) and, above all, with an impressive 9 of 11 triples (35-24).

With their mouths open and without the ability to react, the Heat stayed despite the fact that Herro tried to reactivate them in the second quarter. This attempt was unsuccessful as Tatumwho went to the bench in the first quarter with two fouls, returned to the track with great enthusiasm and extended the Celtics’ difference to very worrying extremes for the Heat.

Boston He went on to win 29 points before the break with an offensive display from Tatum (17 points in the second quarter) and with an impenetrable defense that, with Smart y Williams up front, he hampered each and every one of the Heat’s steps on offense.

Besides, Miami disappointed with a very weak first half for a team that has also made defense one of the pillars of its personality. The convincing 45-70 after the first half clearly reflected the show of the Celtics, who made 58.5% of their shots (40.9% of the Heat) and 63.2% of their triples (31.6% of Miami).

Boston flirted with +30 early in the third quarter thanks to baskets like a fabulous two-plus-one by Smart from behind the board. But the Heat reacted. Underpinning their defense, which alternated zone and individual, and with a Butler determined to put the team on his back, Miami reduced the difference and began to build morale to try the comeback (65-82 with 3.46 to play).

In that delicate moment, Celtics they were not carried away by nerves and Smart y Tatum they closed the quarter recovering exactly the advantage they had at halftime (71-96). There were no more desperate attempts by the Heat, who, resigned, reserved their starters in the fourth quarter for a series that now travels to Boston to play Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday.

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