The Boston Celtics lost another big lead against the Miami Heat and lost Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals 101-106. The Heat is only missing two wins to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
Miami was up to 17 points behind in the first half and still came back as in the first game of the series, the team from Florida is now in the playoffs with an outstanding 10-1 record. Goran Dragic was the top scorer of his team with 25 points, all the other starters as well as Tyler Herro from the bench (11) scored double-digit points. Bam Adebayo scored a strong double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Jimmy Butler got 14 points.
In the Celtics, Kemba Walker showed a significant increase (23 points) compared to Game 1, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 21 points. Daniel Theis didn’t have a good evening and came up with 6 points and 8 rebounds. As a team, Boston had a strong first half, only to collapse almost completely in the third quarter.
Celtics dominate the first half
Both teams started unchanged for Game 1, contrary to Boston’s hopes, Gordon Hayward was not available again after his ankle injury. But the game started with a good sign for the Celtics: Walker, who was so weak recently, hit his first throw of the game, a pull-up threesome over Adebayo’s outstretched arm.
The point guard hit his second a little later and was generally more aggressive, but the hottest player in the opening minutes was Robinson with four threesomes hit in five attempts. In contrast to game 1, this time both teams were present from the start and met at eye level, there were six changes in leadership in the first round. After a free throw by Tatum, the score was 31:28 for Boston.
The second quarter then went more clearly. Walker took over again, initially by jumper and with a spectacular layup, then with a fine pass to Smart. At 13 points behind, heat coach Spoelstra took the next time out, but the dreaded zone defense was no answer, as Boston hit almost everything at times. Only a few lack of concentration shortly before the break prevented a greater lead than 60:47.
Boston collapses in the third quarter
As so often in this postseason, Boston eased noticeably in the third quarter, while the Heat noticeably increased their intensity and Abebayo got more involved in the offensive. The lead shrank to 8, followed by a 4-point play by Crowder and another Adebayo dunk and there were only 4. The Celtics completely lost the thread, the towering center gave Miami its first lead since round one. After 15 points, Adebayo took his place on the bench, but Miami was called and led after an Olynyk three over the board and a Dragic layup with 84:77.
Boston also opened the final round so badly that the annoyed Stevens took another time out in the first minute, a throw-in to the opponent was the culmination. However, Miami made some stupid fouls, so the Celtics got back. After eleven missed three-pointers in a row for Boston Walker met again, Brown equalized the game after an offensive rebound. A tatum dunk and another Walker triple completed a 15-2 run, but Butler promptly countered.
2:21 minutes before the end the game was even, Dragic hit two free throws, a minute later the Slovenian increased to 5 points with a three-point. Boston couldn’t be shaken off in the person of Brown, who hit two more threes, then Butler slipped the ball out of his hand with 23.6 seconds to go. Boston was 3 behind but Brown missed from the corner. Butler remained ice cold after the free throw line.
Game 3 of the game will take place on Sunday night at 2.30 a.m. (live on DAZN).
