The Miami Heat produced a record-breaking display to defeat the Boston Celtics and level up the series on Wednesday night. Erik Spoelstra’s team shot a franchise-record 23 three-pointers to stun the NBA title favourites without star man Jimmy Butler on the floor. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder went 2-0 up in their series against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Miami Heat stunned the Boston Celtics with a 111-101 victory following a dominant performance to level up the series in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The Heat produced a franchise-record 23 three-pointers to secure a vital win on the road against the NBA title favourites without their star man Jimmy Butler, who was ruled out of Game 2 with injury.
Tyler Herro led the way for Miami with 24 points and 14 assists but it was the performances from Caleb Martin and Bam Adebayo – who both put up 21 points – that allowed the Heat to overcome the Celtics. “We’ve been doubted a lot through our playoff runs, people saying we couldn’t do a lot of stuff that we [eventually] did,” Adebayo said after the match.
“So for me and my team, why lose belief now? Our backs are against the wall. Everybody’s against us. So just use that as fuel.
“Our guys believe we can win. So, let’s make it mano a mano — a cage fight. Let’s hoop.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was full of praise for Herro after his display.
“Based on how we look right now [in terms of injuries], he’s going to be involved one way or another, and sometimes that’s going to mean making the right play over and over and over again,” Spoelstra said of Herro.
“And he made the right read repeatedly tonight.”
It was a disappointing night for the Celtics despite Jaylen Brown scoring a game-high 33 points and Jayson Tatum also contributing with 28 points.
“We’re going to have to find a balance, because a lot of those shooters are also good drivers and are good at getting downhill,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
“We have to find that balance of making sure we can close out appropriately so we don’t open up the other side of that.”
Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 124-92 win against the New Orleans Pelicans to go up 2-0 in their first-round series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was once again the star man for OKC as he netted 33 points, while Chet Holmgren added 26 points and seven rebounds and Jalen Williams notched up 21 points. “And every night, all 15 of us go to bed and want to win the next game, want to win the next day. And we do everything we can to do so.”
OKC will now go on the road to face the Pelicans on Saturday and look to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
“Now, the challenge is to continue to grow and learn and improve with the series because the Pelicans are going to improve,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
“They’re a good team that’s going home and they’re well coached. They’re going to get better. We have to continue to get better.”