#Celtics #respond #Heat #big #slap
Start strong. The Heat started strong in the first quarter and quickly took a 10-point lead (18-8). But the Celtics react quickly: after a repairing timeout, Ime Udoka’s men finally start their game and beat Erik Spoelstra’s men 27-6 (including a violent 17-0). The craziest? The insolent exterior direction of the Celtics, who sign a 9/11! After the first 12 minutes, the Heat were already sounding, despite a game start that suggested the opposite (35-24).
the impulse then clearly in favor of Boston, the situation worsens for Miami during the second quarter. The blitz behind the arc of the Cs is suddenly less effective, but the Cs make up for it by hitting close to the circle.
While the Heat players, disoriented by the solid defense of their rivals, sadly tangle their brushes in attack (21 points, 9/20 shooting). Under the impetus of the Jayson Tatum – Jaylen Brown duo, who gained momentum and compiled 35 points in the first half, the gap exploded: +25 at halftime!
With such a difference at half time, it’s hard to expect a sensational second-half comeback.
And indeed, there was nothing to tell in the locker room lap, with a second half that usually boils down to a long 24-minute “garbage time”… Jimmy Butler floats in this game for the Heat, closing the gap at +17 but Boston, with a much better spread record, continues to deliver multiple and varied blows. The Celtics quietly temporize their advantage and even raise the difference to +34 at the end of the game.
The benches are emptied to complete this embarrassing Game 2 for the Heat players, who take a very big blow (127-102), and lose for the first time in these playoffs at home. Abused in the first game, the Celtics sign an authoritarian reaction and equalize in style. Ime Udoka’s company is full of confidence ahead of returning to Boston for the next two games of the series.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Exit due to injury of PJ Tucker. Blow to the left knee, the strong winger left during the third quarter of the game, and did not come back into the game. Like his team, he was in trouble before joining the locker room (5 points in 2/6 in shots). His presence for Game 3 is not yet defined, But he’s going to have an MRI tomorrow.to determine the severity of the injury. If he missed that third inning in Boston, it would be a huge blow to the Heat, who would face Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown without their main defensive stopper.
– Boston transformed by the returns of Marcus Smart and Al Horford. Reduced in Game 1 as both players were absent, the Celtics put on a much better face during this second game. The first in particular has had a resounding comeback: with 24 points (8/22), 9 rebounds and 12 assists, he is close to a triple-double and has done a lot of damage to the Heat in many ways. The second, somewhat less outstanding from the accounting point of view, greatly relieved his team, both in attack and defense, with his experience and his always impeccable game intelligence. He compiled 10 points, 4/4 shooting, with 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
– The incredible first quarter of the Celtics. Badly embarked in the first minutes, especially against Jimmy Butler with good legs, the Celtics nevertheless managed to practically seal the outcome of the game in the first quarter. Thanks to this incredible pass after Ime Udoka’s first timeout, during which they ran a 27-6 run on the Heat’s defense, including a completely lunar 9/11 3-pointer, Jayson Tatum’s teammates disrupted the course of the game. And the locals never recovered.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Smart Frame. The return of the soul of the team changed everything for the Celtics. Stopping Jimmy Butler on defense, directing the game on offense and making important baskets to ward off any second-half comeback ideas. He misses the simple things more than the complicated ones, but the impact of it is enormous.
✅ Jayson Tatum. His second half in Game 1 left a lot to be desired, and his reaction in Game 2 would be closely watched. Unsurprisingly, he clinched the star for the Celtics. He scored 27 points on 8/13 shooting (4/6 3-pointers, 7/7 free throws), and added 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
✅ grant williams. The hero of Game 7 against Milwaukee was in great form. From the bench he once again proved his worth, with 19 points (5/7 shooting, 2/2 triples) and 4 rebounds. He finished the match with an impressive +/- +37, second best on his team (after Payton Pritchard, at +39).
✅ Celtics 3-point address. 9/11 at the end of the first quarter, 15/29 after three quarters, 20/40 at the end of the game. The Celtics torpedoed the Heat behind the arc, and that’s the main reason for this blowout. Brilliant defensively, the Celtics are notoriously difficult to maneuver when they’re on a big managerial evening.
✅ jimmy butler. The Heat winger did not deserve during this Game 2: 29 points (11/18), 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Despite his club’s heavy loss, he adds another high-quality performance to his impressive 2022 playoff campaign.
⛔ Bam Adebayo. The other Miami All-Star has to settle for 6 points and 9 rebounds (3/6 shooting) in Game 2, with just one free throw attempted (and missed). A lack of offensive impact inevitably poses a problem, especially as the Heat appear to have saved their systems for the interior.
THE CONTINUATION
Game 3: in Boston, on the night from Saturday to Sunday, at 02:30.
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