MIAMI — On Monday night, the Boston Celtics showcased a commanding performance, defeating the Miami Heat by a score of 103-85. Jayson Tatum was the standout player for Boston, contributing 33 points to secure the victory. Kristaps Porzingis also played a significant role, adding 17 points to the team’s total. Al Horford contributed 16 points, while Sam Hauser and Derrick White chipped in with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Notably, the Celtics attempted an impressive 53 three-pointers compared to just 32 two-pointers throughout the game.
For the Heat, Bam Adebayo led the scoring with 22 points and collected 12 rebounds. However, Miami faced challenges, missing key players Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. due to illness. Andrew Wiggins marked his debut with the Heat, scoring 11 points, but the team struggled offensively, shooting only 33.7% from the field. The Heat have now failed to score 90 points in their past five encounters with the Celtics.
Including postseason play, the Celtics have secured victories in their last five matchups against the Heat, achieving considerable margins in each game. Their recent wins include scores like 104-84, 102-88, and 118-84 during the 2024 first-round playoffs, as well as a 108-89 win on December 2, culminating in Monday’s 18-point rout.
In terms of team news, the Celtics were without Jaylen Brown, who was sidelined due to swelling in his right knee, while Jrue Holiday was out with a shoulder injury. When asked about his team’s injury concerns, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla noted that he views these situations as opportunities rather than issues.
For Miami, the recent acquisitions as part of the Jimmy Butler trade, including Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, and Kyle Anderson, saw a difficult night, combining for a dismal 5-for-25 shooting performance and only 2-for-13 from beyond the arc. Both Wiggins and Mitchell were in the starting lineup for their first game with the team.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Heat initially led 24-13, but the Celtics quickly turned the tide with a remarkable 26-5 run over a seven-minute stretch, maintaining control of the game from that point onward.
A noteworthy statistic revealed that this matchup marked the 69th occasion in Heat history where they shot below 35% in a regular-season game, leaving them with a record of 2-67 in such scenarios.
Looking ahead, the Celtics are set to conclude their pre-All-Star schedule with a home game against San Antonio on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Heat will be on the road, facing Oklahoma City on Wednesday and Dallas on Thursday.
