The Miami Heat pulled out a 118-107 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the 2022 Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night. It was a tale of two halves for the Heat, who came alive in the third quarter to storm back from an eight-point halftime deficit and proceed to dominate the Celtics for the remainder of the game. Jimmy Butler put up 41 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the win, while Tyler Herro added 18 points off the bench for the Heat.
Miami turned up the pressure on defense in the second half, and made life difficult for Jayson Tatum and Boston. Tatum finished the game with 29 points (21 in the first half), while Jaylen Brown added 24 points. Boston certainly missed Marcus Smart (out with a foot injury) and Al Horford (out in COVID health and safety protocols) on both ends of the floor, and while Horford could miss Game 2 in the league’s protocols, there’s optimism Smart could return for Game 2 from that right foot sprain.
Jimmy Butler took over the 3rd quarter 🔥
17 points in the 3rd; 31 in the game. The Heat outscored the Celtics 39-14pic.twitter.com/kfB6ZVO6VQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 18, 2022
Hey @statmuse who do you think will have a bigger game tomorrow? 🤔
Strap in as Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum go at it again in a rematch of the 2020 Bubble Playoffs ECF featuring the Heat and Celtics 🍿 pic.twitter.com/hFxoCtm4vk
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 17, 2022