Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat summary: stats and highlights | NBA Playoffs
That is going to be it for our live commentary. Join us tomorrow for our coverage of the Golden State Warriors vs the Dallas Mavericks out west and then again on Saturday when we bring you Game 3 of this Eastern Conference Final.
Our final score here tonight, Boston Celtics 127, Miami Heat 102
The Celtics were bigger, stronger, and more dominant on the boards than Miami tonight. When they are healthy, it is difficult to see anyone competing with them. Miami will need to figure out a few things when the series moves north. For a team that prides itself on defense, they were full of holes tonight.
What a game by Marcus Smart!
A real dominant performance by the Celtics
Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET will see game 3 in the Boston Garden
By the same token, the Heat will need to look out that they don't get too down on themselves after the humiliation of tonight's loss.
Game 3 will move to Boston tied at one game apiece. The Celtics drove the entire night but will need to focus on the next game, not the last one. It will be tricky for them not to become overconfident.
Final Score
The Heat are blown out on their home floor here tonight. The game ends 127-102
Kornet puts one up to take it to 127-99
With two minutes remaining, Morgan draws the foul and sinks them both.
Just under five minutes to go and the Heat look to be about to suffer their first post season home loss.
The Celtics are now emptying their bench and giving their big names a breather. Marcus Smart takes a seat and has had a great night. This is a real blowout for Boston. They call timeout at 119-87
The Miami fans are streaming for the doors. There is just under seven minutes left and it looks like the Celtics are not loosening their grip on this game at all. Their lead is healthier than ever at 115-83
Marcus Smart hits another three for his 21st point tonight. The Celtics now lead 103-73
Fourth Quarter
The Celtics are firmly in the driving seat now. They really have been since about halfway through the first quarter. Miami are showing glimmers of good work, but nothing like what they need to get back into this.
The quarter ends 96-71 Boston.
Tatum knocks down a three of his own as the third quarter comes to a close. He has 27 points on the evening.
Smart hits a three and he now has 18 points tonight
PJ Tucker, such a big part of that early scoring run for Miami, is out of the game with a left knee contusion.
Miami take a timeout now trailing 86-67
Jimmy Butler hits another two. He has suddenly come alive in this game!
Throughout the playoffs, the Heat have been dominant in the third quarter. They have really turned the tide on this game here tonight. They still have a long way to go, but the momentum is all Miami's
The Celtics have now missed three in a row and Butler puts up two the other end. He draws the foul as well. The lead is now 18
The Heat have committed to trapping Tatum and until Boston can find an answer, it looks like that healthy lead will be chipped away at.
Miami have started to tighten up here in the third quarter. Vincent hits a three and the lead is cut to 20
Jimmy Butler shows real strength going to the board for Miami.
The Celtics are having a careless little run here. They have turned over two and let the Heat cut their lead to 23. They call a timeout and try to regroup. 80-57
Tatum gets the turnover, that is now the tenth turnover for the Celtics and they take the score to 80-53
Vincent hits a three for Miami and the Heat break the half century mark
Marcus Smart drives from the baseline and gets the bump and the shot. Over the backboard for two and with the foul a three point play. Celtics are up now 75-48
The Celtics have been prolific
Jimmy Butler, so prolific in game one, misses one and gets the second. He has only 14 points in game two
They get one here, and drive down the court to get a foul
In the first half, the Heat only forced four turnovers. They need to start to get some stops and force some turnovers if they want to claw their way back into this.
Third Quarter
We get back underway with the Celtics leading by 25
Halftime
The first half comes to an end with Boston leading 70-45. Absolutely stunning! This makes the largest road halftime lead in Boston Celtics franchise history.
A turnover finally goes Miami's way and they get the shot and the foul.
The Heat look like they are completely swamped here in the first half.
Miami turn it over again!
Miami take the ball in and get called for travelling. That is the seventh Heat turnover.
The Heat basket looks like it has a lid on it.
Finally a bit of luck for Miami, with 2 minutes 50 remaining in the second. Adebayo gets the two and the foul. Timeout is called. 64-39
Jayson Tatum hits from two and draws the foul, making it a three point play. The Celtics are now up 62-37. Tatum now has 18 points in the first half!
Marcus Smart gets his hands on the ball and puts up a shot from three. Missed, but Horford is fouled in the rebound.
Miami lose the ball and Pritchard feeds Tatum who slams it home! 54-33
Adebayo gets two back for Miami and Pritchard responds in kind. The Celtics are really stretching their legs here. They have a 21 point lead now.
Second Quarter
Robert Williams has been everywhere for Boston and takes the ball to the board, getting the shot and drawing the foul. He makes it a three point play.
Miami takes another timeout after Boston sinks another three. They are now riding a 19 point lead at 47-28
Turnovers both ways and then a foul on a fast break, giving the Celtics a chance to stretch their lead. They do so to 16
Finally the Celtics miss a three. Tyler Herro hits one up the other end of the court and Boston misses another one. Herro is keeping Miami in the hunt
Jayson Tatum hits yet another three! Boston is absolutley smoking from distance.
Jaylen Brown hits his third 3-pointer, he is now 3 for 3 from beyond the arc and keep the Celtics firmly in the drivers seat. 35-24
The Celtics are now 7 of 9 from three and have created an eleven point lead 32-21
Miami got off to a blazing fast start but now the Celtics have scored ten unanswered.
Miami get things underway after the timeout and are called for travelling. That is yet another turnover. They need to get ahold of that if they want to stay in this.
Boston takes advantage of the foul and hit eight straight points to take the lead for the first time in the game 23-21. Timeout Miami.
Taking the ball up the other end, and they call Herro for goaltending. Definitely a bad call! That was spectacular defense. The refs missed that one
Herro takes a shot and hits it, drawing the foul in the process. From the line he is as good as before and it is now 21 for the Heat
Jayson Tatum commits an offensive foul and that is now two on him
Miami have three shots from outside and miss them all but get their own rebound, before finally turning the ball over. Boston draws to within three now 15-18
Tatum knocks down a three and then the roles are reversed with Tucker committing his first foul of the night
The Heat have an eight point lead. They have been trading threes for twos and they will gladly do that all night.
PJ Tucker draws the foul off Williams and we see our first shots from the line. Tucker misses both shots.
Al Horford has been a lucky talisman throughout these playoffs for Boston and they really missed his presence on the court in game one.
Miami respond with five unanswered to open it up to 5-10 before Horford gets three back.
Boston catch another rebound and pop one away to level the score 5-5
The Celtics respond with a three and both teams are looking as if they are comfortable. The loss in Game 1 doesn't seem to weigh on the minds of Boston as they are working to stay on the Heat all over the court.
We're underway! And the Heat open up the scoring with Tucker hitting two quick shots. 0-5
So far, the Heat have not lost at home in the playoffs. The Celtics have not lost two in a row in the playoffs. One of those streaks has to end tonight.
Minutes from tip off
We are here now just minutes away from tip off here in Miami for game two
Getting some pre-game warmup in
Jayson Tatum is in the house!
Al Horford arrives
We all wish mom and baby the best!
Derrick White out of tonight’s game
Derrick White will not be playing in tonight’s game, but it isn’t for injury or illness, but because he is flying back to Boston for the birth of his first child! Big congrats from all here at AS USA
Game 1 was a cracker, we hope for more of the same in Game 2!
Celtics vs Heat
With Miami up by one game, the Celtics will be trying to even the series here in downtown Miami. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and Miami is a 3.5-point favorite coming into the game. Boston will have something to say about the bookies odds, and with lucky talisman Horford back on the floor, they may just beat the spread.
AS USA will have you covered with live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s matchup from FTX Arena.
We are live from the FTX Arena in Miami
Hello everyone and welcome to Miami’s FTX Arena for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals!
In the first game of the series, Jimmy Butler went for 41 points leading Miami to a 118-107 victory. With both Smart and Horford out of the Celtics lineup, there was simply no way back for them. Both players are back in the lineup for tonight’s matchup.