Double “back-to-back” in Massachusetts, for Celtics and the Heat who had both bowed the day before. Several major absentees to deplore (Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Sam Hauser on one side; Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic and Kevin Love on the other), but Jaylen Brown (29 points), Payton Pritchard (25 points) and Derrick White (19 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds) were there to help Boston to easily dispose of Miami at home.
After a balanced first quarter where both teams mainly went inside to score their points (28-25), the Celtics began to break away in the second, when Payton Pritchard made a 3-pointer and Jaylen Brown closer of the circle pressed the accelerator. The external skill of the champions increased, the gap necessarily increased (60-45). Especially since it didn't go well for Tyler Herro and the Heat, still clumsy after the break, while Luke Kornet distributed the counterattacks and Brown hit the nail on the head, wide and in the racket (85 -63).
On arrival, after the last shots from Derrick White and Payton Pritchards, to which Bam Adebayo responded as best he could, it led to an authoritarian success for Boston (108-89), now victorious in eight of its last nine matches . Miami returns to the negative, but remains in the Top 8 in the East.
TO REMEMBER
– The champion's reaction. Their series of victories ended the day before in Cleveland, the Celtics did not delay in getting back into working order against their “best enemy” from Florida. Jayson Tatum not in a great evening, but still productive, Joe Mazzulla's players were able to count on an effective trio Jaylen Brown – Payton Pritchard – Derrick White to obtain this success, which allows them to stay in the wheel of the Cavs at the ranking and still not losing twice in a row this season. Faithful to its 3-point reputation (19 baskets), Boston mainly held Miami to 36% shooting (including 23% behind the arc).
– Payton Pritchard is not cooling down. If the Heat quickly calmed down after their 7-0 to start the game, the Celtics rose in temperature to take control of it: +15 at the break and +22 at the end of the third quarter . Like “PP”, their replacement leader, who has been gaining a lead for four games (24.5 points) in the race for the Sixth Man of the Year trophy. Still author of a basket at the quarter-time buzzer, he continues to impress off the bench and brings that spark that the reigning champions need to break away or wake up in the game.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
