Photo creds Kyle Hightower/Associated Press.
BOSTON, MA- The Miami Heat (49-28) maintained its best team in the Eastern Conference after a close 106-98 win against the Boston Celtics (47-29).
Jaylen Brown was on fire early. Brown scored the first 11 points for the Celtics. However, Miami continued to trade buckets with Boston to keep the game close.
Then the Celtics went on a 10-3 run in the final three minutes of the first quarter to take a 29-25 lead. Despite the run, the Heat stayed in the game and didn’t let Boston pull away.
Tyler Herro found his stroke in the second quarter with seven second-quarter points. The Heat then went on a 6-0 run in the final minute of the second quarter and a one-point lead over Boston.
Marcus Smart missed a 20-foot jumper and Miami entered halftime with a 53-52 lead.
After halftime, the Heat gained some momentum. A 3-pointer from Kyle Lowry, a layup from Bam Adebayo, and another 3-pointer from Lowry started a 14-2 Miami run.
That run gave Miami an 11-point lead, however, Boston bounced back with a quick 16-0 run to take a five-point lead with four minutes left in the third quarter. The Celtics entered the fourth quarter with a four-point lead.
Up 97-96, Adebayo was fouled and made one-of-two free-throws. Then Kyle Lowry made a jumpshot, and Jimmy Butler followed with a dunk to increase their lead to six.
Tatum responded with a layup to cut the Celtics’ deficit to four points. Herro missed a 3-pointer and Tatum grabbed the rebound with 37 seconds left in the game.
Tatum rushed the ball up the court and committed an offensive foul which gave the ball back to Miami.
Miami then closed the game out with three straight free throws to win the game.
Offensive Night from Defensive Teams
The two franchises showed out this game despite both being the top five defensive teams in the league.
The Celtics are the number one defensive team in the league, and Miami is ranked the fifth-ranked defensive team in the league.
Against Boston’s defense, Miami finished the game shooting 38-of-79 (48.1%)from the field, 13-of-34 (38.2%) from deep, and 17-of-25 (68.0%)from the free-throw line.
Jimmy Butler was the Heat’s leading scorer with 24 points and Lowry followed with 23 points and eight assists.
In the Heat’s win, Adebayo recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Against Miami’s defense, the Celtics shot 35-of-85 (41.2%) from the field, 11-of-37 (29.7%) from beyond the arc, and 17-of-23 (73.9%) from the free-throw line.
Brown was the Celtics leading scorer with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Tatum was Boston’s second leading scorer with 23 points, six assists, and five rebounds.
Al Horford dominated on the boards with 15 rebounds.
Up Next
The Boston Celtics will host the Indiana Pacers on April 1, 7:30 p.m est.
The Miami Heat will travel to Chicago to faceoff against the Chicago Bulls on April 2, 8 p.m est.
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