Despite a promising Game 1 victory, the Celtics stumbled in Game 2 against the Miami Heat, prompting a reassessment of their new acquisitions, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. While Porzingis struggled with Miami’s physicality and Holiday’s offensive contribution was limited, the Celtics acknowledge the need to make adjustments. They aim to improve their efficiency and support Porzingis better in the upcoming games.
The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat will square off in a crucial Game 3 of their opening-round NBA Playoff series. This highly anticipated matchup promises an intense battle between two Eastern Conference powerhouses.
The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder secured victories in the NBA Eastern and Western Conference playoffs, respectively. Heat upset the top-seeded Boston Celtics 111-101, tying the series at 1-1. Tyler Herro led Miami with 24 points, while the team sank a franchise playoff record 23 three-pointers. The Celtics, led by Jaylen Brown’s 33 points, struggled to match Miami’s long-range accuracy. Meanwhile, in the West, the Thunder took a commanding 2-0 lead against the New Orleans Pelicans with a dominant 124-92 win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 33 points, while Chet Holmgren added 26. The series now shifts to New Orleans for game three on Saturday.
Former Celtics legend Paul Pierce expressed his pride in being despised by Miami Heat fans during a recent appearance on the Dan LeBatard Show. Pierce reminisced about the intense rivalry between the Celtics and Heat during the ‘Big Three’ era, highlighting a game-winning shot he made against the Heat in 2010. Despite the Celtics having one less playoff series victory against the Heat in that three-year period, Pierce boasts a 39-18 career record against the Southeast Division franchise.
The Boston Celtics faced a surprising challenge in their Eastern Conference opening-round playoff series against the eighth-seeded Miami Heat, losing Game 2 at home 111-101. Despite missing key players Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, the Heat made key adjustments and set a franchise playoff record with 23 made 3-pointers. Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis struggled to find his rhythm, while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown lacked sufficient support. Miami’s swarming defense and Porzingis’s isolation proved problematic for Boston, sending the series to Miami with the Celtics facing pressure.
Jimmy Butler is still making his presence felt in the playoffs, despite being sidelined with an MCL sprain. After his Miami Heat bounced back from a Game 1 loss to the Boston Celtics, Butler took to Instagram to troll his opponents with a quote from Celtics guard Jaylen Brown. Brown’s quote, “Don’t let us get one,” came last year when Boston trailed Miami 0-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics rallied to win three straight games before Miami ultimately won Game 7 and advanced to the NBA Finals. Butler, who is expected to miss the rest of the first round, is still communicating with his teammates and providing encouragement. Kyle Lowery, who led the Heat with 24 points and 14 assists in Game 2, revealed that Butler texted him before the series to give him confidence and urge him to lead the team. The Heat will host the next two games of the series in Miami, looking to extend their lead and take a commanding 3-1 advantage.
The Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics 106-92 to tie their Eastern Conference semifinals series 1-1. Despite an injury that has sidelined him from the court, Jimmy Butler has found a way to inject some trash talk into the rivalry. After the game, Butler posted a photoshopped image on Instagram of himself on top of Jaylen Brown’s face, referencing a quote from Brown last season when the Celtics were down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals. Butler’s trolling comes as the Heat, led by Tyler Herro’s 24 points and 14 assists, rebounded from their loss in Game 1. The Heat’s victory marked their fifth time winning a playoff game by at least 10 points after losing a game by at least 20 points under Erik Spoelstra. Game 3 will be played in Miami on Saturday.
Despite being sidelined with an injury, Jimmy Butler played a vital role in the Miami Heat’s Game 2 victory over the Boston Celtics. Tyler Herro revealed that Butler texted him before the series, urging him to lead the team. With Butler’s encouragement, Herro put up a stellar performance with 24 points and 14 assists, leading Miami to a 111-101 win.
Kristaps Porzingis’ poor defensive performance proved costly for the Boston Celtics in their Game 2 loss to the Miami Heat. The Heat set a franchise record with 23 three-pointers, often finding wide-open shots as Porzingis struggled to keep up. Offensively, Porzingis shot poorly and the Celtics were outscored by 32 points during his time on the court. His struggles underscore the volatility that Porzingis can bring to the team, which could prove dangerous in the playoffs.
Despite setting league records for wins, the Boston Celtics finished the regular season without any finalists for year-end awards. Coach Joe Mazzulla expressed his indifference towards the lack of recognition, emphasizing the team’s focus on collective success rather than individual accolades. In Game 2 of the playoffs against the Miami Heat, the Celtics struggled to defend the Heat’s outside shooting, allowing them to convert 23 of 43 three-point attempts. Jaylen Brown acknowledged the Heat’s offensive prowess and the need for the Celtics to adjust. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra highlighted the challenge of guarding a team with multiple shooting threats.
