The Boston Celtics are one of the most successful teams in the NBA. Consistently, they have been making deep playoff runs and competing for championships. This season, they became the number one seed in the NBA with a record of 64-18.
Against the conference, the Celtics soared with 41-11. The team was a dominant force at home, with a 37-4 record. On the road, the top-seeded team had a solid 27-14 record. Despite opening the NBA playoffs with a win in Game 1 against the Miami Heat, the Celtics were upset in Game 2.
Boston Celtics Lose to Heat in Game Two
Boston was upset at home against the Jimmy Butlerless Heat in the 2024 NBA playoffs. Miami drained 23 three-pointers, a franchise record. As a result, the Heat tied the series, beating the Celtics 111-101 at the TD Garden in Boston. Additionally, Miami was a 14.5 underdog heading into the must-win game. However, the Heat looked like a more confident team compared to the Celtics.
The number-one seed, the Boston Celtics, finished Game 1 cruising over the Heat on Sunday and led by three at halftime. Things were different as Miami got hot in the second half, beyond the arc. The 23 three-pointers were the most in the team’s history as a franchise.
Also, six different players from the Heat hit multiple shots beyond the arc in the second half. Tyler Herro led the way with six triples, 24 points, and 14 assists. Both Caleb Martin and Bam Adebayo scored 21 points for Miami. Additionally, Martin was 5-for-6 from a long distance, while Adebayo went 9-for-13 from the floor without making a three-pointer.
Why Did Boston Lose Game Two to Miami?
Despite getting big offensive production from star players, the rest of the Boston Celtics did little on offense. Jaylen Brown finished with a game-high 33 points, Jayson Tatum added 28 points, and the other six Celtics had 50 points on the floor. The 64-win team entered as heavy favorites to win the Eastern Conference and the series.
The Heat, on the other hand, are looking to pull off another first-round upset. Last season, Miami upset the No. 1 seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games, shocking the fans. In Game 2, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra took away the Boston Celtics three-pointers, risking leaving defenders on an island. Boston leads the league with 43 attempts per game beyond the arc.
Looking For A Better Path Forward
Compared to Game 1, the Boston Celtics went just 12 for 32 from a distance. Thanks to the Heat forcing Brown and Tatum into a lot of one-on-one situations, Boston’s players outside of the stars were just 6-for-17 on the three-point line. Plus, after being told by Butler to be more aggressive, Tyler Herro crushed Boston’s defense with his scoring and playmaking.
Herro was patient with his offense and didn’t force anything against the Celtics. While leveraging his pull-up shooting ability, Herro also drew in multiple Boston Celtics defenders, making accurate choices with the basketball. The 14 assists were the highest of his career.
The Celtics will need to regain control of the series by picking up a road win now that the series is headed to Miami.
For More Great Sports Content
Read more from Chris and others daily! Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
