Following their stunning run to the NBA Finals as the eighth seed last season, the undermanned Miami Heat failed to replicate their magic in the opening playoff game of the current season.
Facing the top-seeded Boston Celtics while missing superstar Jimmy Butler due to injury, the Heat found themselves trailing from the outset.
The Celtics dominated, establishing a commanding lead of 34 points at one stage, before ultimately securing a decisive 114-94 victory at TD Garden for a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Playoffs on Monday (PHL).
Boston seized control early, scoring the first 14 points and maintaining a comfortable advantage throughout the game.
lightning strike 🌩? pic.twitter.com/QZKhoElZbz
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 21, 2024
Despite brief efforts by the Heat to narrow the gap, including cutting the deficit to three points in the second quarter, the Celtics responded with a decisive 22-7 run to reassert their dominance.
The second half saw the Celtics extend their lead, reaching a peak of 34 points, before the Heat mounted a late surge to reduce the margin to 14 with under three minutes remaining. However, the Celtics maintained their composure, ultimately clinching a convincing 20-point victory.
Tempers flared late in the game when Heat forward Caleb Martin fouled Celtics' Jayson Tatum, resulting in a heated exchange between players and technical fouls being issued.
"Erik Spoelstra called a timeout with a 1:30 left down by 16, 30 seconds later that play happens... that looked shady to me."
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 21, 2024
Brian Scalabrine reacts to Caleb Martin's foul on Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/XRchYpbOVh
Individual performances for the Heat were led by Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Delon Wright, who combined for 57 points on efficient shooting.
However, the remainder of the Heat roster struggled to contribute offensively, with guard Tyler Herro notably having a tough shooting night.
In contrast, the Celtics showcased balanced scoring with six players reaching double digits, led by Jayson Tatum's triple-double performance of 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
This matchup marks the third consecutive postseason meeting between the Heat and Celtics, with the series tied at one win apiece in their previous encounters.
With the Celtics now holding a series lead, Game 2 is set to take place at TD Garden on Thursday (PHL time).
