Jayson Tatum gets triple-double, Celtics beat Heat by 20 in Game 1
Jayson Tatum had a triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the top-seeded Boston Celtics took Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff series 114-94 over the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.
It wasn’t even that close. With Miami star Jimmy Butler nursing a knee injury that may keep him out of the series, the Celtics charged out of the gate to a 17-2 lead. While the Boston offense stagnated and the Heat trimmed the deficit to 26-23 early in the second quarter, Sam Hauser exploded for four three-pointers in less than four minutes to get the Green back in gear.
The Celts would lead by 15 at the break – converting second-chance opportunities, taking care of the basketball (just three first half turnovers) and getting hot from deep.
The C’s took a 20-point lead (the 42nd game in which they’ve led by 20 points during the 2024 season, per Sean Grande) in the third, parlaying a 15-0 run late in the period into a 91-59 lead through 36 minutes of play.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 21: Caleb Martin #16 of the Miami Heat runs into Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics as he tries to keep Jayson Tatum #0 from the ball during the first quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on April 21, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Al Horford (10 points) canned a triple early in the fourth to push the lead to a game-high 34. However, Miami doggedly battled to make things respectable with their closing effort, at one point chipping the lead down to 14 and keeping Boston’s starting unit on the floor to the end.
Boston made 22 threes in all. Derrick White converted four of them en route to a 20-point night. Kristaps Porzingis posted 18 points for Boston, nailing four threes of his own. Jaylen Brown contributed 17 points for a Celtics offense that placed six players in double figures.
Miami was led by Bam Adebayo with a game-high 24 points.
In addition to Butler, Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson missed the contest for Miami. Luke Kornet sat for Boston.
Game 2 is Wednesday night at TD Garden. Pregame coverage starts at 6:30 on Rock 92.9 and throughout the BetMGM Celtics Radio Network.
Sean Sylver can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Talk hoops with him on X @TheSylverFox.
