An extremely lopsided third quarter was the difference in a double-digit comeback from the Miami Heat, as they claimed a 118-107 Game 1 win in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Celtics started off the third quarter by surrendering a 22-2 run after leading by as many as 13 points in the first half. Jayson Tatum turned the ball over six times in the third quarter with seven overall. The third quarter which Miami won by 25 points put the Celtics in too deep a hole to climb out of, as Jimmy Butler out-dueled Tatum in the fourth quarter, en route to a 41-point performance.
Hours before tip, news broke that Al Horford had entered the league’s health and safety protocols and Marcus Smart was also out with a sprained foot.
The starting lineup of Derrick White, Brown, Tatum, Grant Williams and Robert Williams started off on a 7-0 run to open up Game 1 in Miami. Grant Williams continued to shoot like it was still Game 7 against the Bucks, and the Celtics’ frenetic energy on defense forced Miami to start 0/7 from the floor.
Boston’s defense continued to give Miami fits to start the first quarter. The Celtics led 14-6 after five minutes elapsed, Miami shot 3/10 from the floor, 0/3 from three and turned the ball over three times.
Robert Williams, in his return to action, provided his signature brand of hustle ball early, scoring eight with two offensive rebounds. Williams also had a block early.
Despite the early lead, the Heat quickly came back from a nine-point lead in minutes, attacking in transition after Boston misses and tied the game at 21. After a Tatum turnover led to a transition dunk, Miami took its first lead at 23-21 with 2:30 to go in the first.
Tatum scored four straight to take a two-point lead right back. Tatum had 10 in the first quarter to go along with three rebounds. After a Payton Pritchard three, Boston led 28-25 after one.
Aaron Nesmith checked in to start the second quarter after seeing just seven minutes total in the playoffs so…
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