From their surprising 2020 Finals run in the NBA bubble to becoming the first play-in team to reach the championship round last season, this battle-tested Miami Heat team just keeps going through adversity.
Earned not given, down but not out.
Always wanted to do it the hard way.
"We've been doubted a lot throughout playoff runs... why lose belief now? Backs against the wall... our guys believe that we can win," Bam Adebayo said in the post-game press conference of the Heat’s stunning 111-101 Game 2 win over the Celtics to tie their East opening series at 1-1.
Miami beat Boston with an unprecedented barrage of 3-pointers--23 in total for franchise playoff record--to erase the home-court advantage the Celtics worked all season to establish.
[ALSO READ: Herro, Heat bank on record-shooting to down Celtics, even series at 1-1]
Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo led the way as the @MiamiHEAT get the road W and knot up the series!
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2024
Herro: 24 PTS, 6 3PM, 14 AST
Bam: 21 PTS (9-13 FGM), 10 REB pic.twitter.com/QsWuGJvrDf
“It was a very good response,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
“And then we also made some shots. It always looks better when you make shots.”
Bam Adebayo had 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The Heat, still without Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, banked on their blitzing outside shooting to take down NBA-best Celts in their own backyard.
“A lot of people seem to think we’re going to buy into what they say that we can’t get it down [but] it's different. We get between those lines, we make it about basketball,” the multiple All-Star added.
Spo also praised Adebayo’s steady plays that kept the Celtics at bay.
“When you talk about Bam in the playoffs, you have to talk about a guy that does it on both ends. He has big responsibilities…. he was great when we needed to get settled and he went right to his spot and {was] able to get us some relief."
The two-time champion coach emphasized his team’s win on the road and braces for tough games ahead as the series moves to Miami for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday.
“We hope to get the job done tonight. It’s a tough environment. Our guys responded to the challenge and rose to the occasion but we have to gear up for a very competitive Game 3.”
The two squads will meet again on Sunday, April 28, at 6 a.m. LIVE on NBA TV Philippines.
[RELATED: Philippine schedule for the NBA Playoffs]
