Don't be fooled by the 20-point final score; this game was a blowout from the start.
Boston came out firing on all cylinders, ticking off every box on their to-do list from last year's Eastern Conference Finals rematch.
- Quick Start: The Celtics opened with a blistering 14-0 run.
- 3-Point Shooting: They were on fire from beyond the arc, hitting 44.9% of their 3-point attempts.
- Star Performance: Jayson Tatum put on a show, racking up a triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
- Bench Boost: Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser came off the bench to combine for 20 points.
- Lockdown Defense: This was the game-changer. Miami couldn't find any rhythm, thanks to Boston's elite defense.
Miami, missing key players like Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, relied heavily on Tyler Herro, but Jrue Holiday shut him down. Herro struggled, shooting just 4-of-13 for 11 points, with a few assists and turnovers. He was a non-factor.
Boston dominated, leading by 30 points in the fourth quarter before easing off, allowing Delon Wright to heat up and finish with 17 points. The final score was 114-94, giving Boston a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 is set for Wednesday in Boston.
The Celtics had a balanced attack, with Derrick White scoring 20, Kristaps Porzingis adding 18, and Jaylen Brown contributing 17. They executed their game plan flawlessly.
For Miami, Bam Adebayo led with 24 points and six rebounds, while rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in 16. In Game 2, the Heat need to focus on running the offense through Adebayo, with Herro and Jaquez playing off him to open up scoring opportunities. They should also consider adjusting their defensive strategy, perhaps doubling less on Tatum and contesting more 3-pointers.
However, the absence of Butler might be too much to overcome. This is a different year, and the Heat will need to make some serious adjustments to turn the series around.
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