Celtics

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have announced their starting lineups for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

- SHOULD THE BUCKS MAKE A TRADE? On Sunday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks lost Game 7 to the Boston Celtics, which officially ends their 2021-22 NBA season in the second-round. Meanwhile, the Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers in the first two rounds. The Celtics are the second seed in the Eastern Conference, and they beat the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks in the first two rounds.

The shorthanded Celtics gave up a 39-14 third quarter in their Game 1 loss to Heat.

Jayson Tatum was front and center for the debacle after erupting for 21 first half points to help spot Boston an eight point halftime lead. Jimmy Butler (16 third quarter points) led a parade of Heat shooters in the free throw line (17 team attempts in the period) as Miami got into the penalty early and took advantage of a Celtics defense that lacked discipline amid tired legs. Boston went 2-of-15 from the field and coughed up eight eight turnovers in what was easily the team’s worst quarter in the postseason.

Nicole Yang is at the game in Miami, and Chad Finn will opine from his armchair as the Eastern Conference finals begin Tuesday.

The odds are stacked against the Celtics for Game 1. There’s a smattering of Celtics fans, but the home crowd definitely showed up. Yang: I don’t think anybody was expecting the Celtics to start the game with a 7-0 lead, but the makeshift starting lineup has held its ground. The bad: Let Herro get going a little bit, and he’s already at maximum annoyance level, some defensive lapses in the second half of the quarter, shaky shooting from White. Fatigue in general will be something to monitor for the Celtics. Yang: Uh-oh for Heat: PJ Tucker looked as though he rolled his ankle and limped back to the locker room with 6:25 remaining in the second quarter. The Heat have rallied to take a 72-64 lead with 6:16 left in the third quarter. That could be trouble for the Celtics, as Miami is 12 of 13 from the line. Yang: The Celtics have yet to make a field goal through nearly six minutes of third-quarter action. Finn: Jaylen has been in a fog most of the night. “That was the message after the quick timeout to start the half. Miami outscored Boston 39-14 in the third.

#Celtics with one day of rest picking up full court on defense trying to come back. 1 s. Share on. Twitter · Facebook · LinkedIn · Tumblr.

BOSTON (CBS) — The undermanned Celtics came out firing in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat. The Celtics of the first half looked ...

The Celtics were never able to match the Heat’s intensity in the third quarter, and it cost them a chance to win the game. But Strus drained a deep three out of a Miami timeout, and Jimmy Butler answered another Brown three with a nasty turnaround fade over Tatum to give the Heat a 114-102 edge with 2:30 to play. “They went on a run, we got a little bit out of sorts and turned the ball over. Miami closed the quarter on an 11-0 run, as the Celtics missed their last five shots and turned the ball over four times over the final four minutes. The Celtics started cold and the Heat rattled off a 10-1 run to begin the third quarter. Tatum was 0-for-2 with six turnovers in the frame, three of which led to easy buckets for Miami. Udoka called a timeout and berated his team for their lack of energy to start the quarter. His message didn’t get through, because that 10-1 run turned into a 22-2 run for Miami. Boston started the third quarter 0-for-6 with a pair of turnovers. The Celtics missed a pair of threes on their ensuing possession, but also came down with two offensive boards — including one from Nesmith — and the possession ended with Tatum lobbing it to Rob Williams for an emphatic dunk. The Celtics defense was relentless to start the game, forcing the Heat into several bad shots and three turnovers. Miami outscored Boston 39-14 in the frame, turning an eight-point Celtics lead at the break into a 17-point Heat advantage heading into the fourth quarter. The Celtics went on to lose Game 1, 118-107, in Miami.READ MORE:

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 isn't entirely surprising to see Vincent make an impact for the Heat, given he showed some flashes of this in the second round against the 76ers, but I imagine not many predicted that he would be the second-leading scorer among the starters for the Heat tonight. His third-quarter performance was one of the reasons the Heat managed to work up such a big lead, as he put up 10 points while playing all 12 minutes in the third quarter. One of the major storylines for the Heat heading into Game 1 was how this team would handle playing against a defense like the Celtics without their starting point guard in Kyle Lowry, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Boston needed that production in the third quarter when Tatum was getting swarmed and no one else could generate points. But the blame can't be entirely placed on Tatum's shoulders for that third-quarter performance. It resulted in just five points from the superstar forward, who struggled to find his shot again after a hot start to the game. Things really fell apart for the Celtics in the third quarter, as they got outscored 39-14 out of halftime after leading by eight points after 24 minutes. Butler's right, Pritchard, and everyone else Boston tried to stick on him couldn't contain him and it resulted in an explosive performance from the Heat forward, who now has scored 40 or more points three times in these playoffs. 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. 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. Butler also finished with three blocks, the last one of which felt like a statement, as he stuffed Tatum on a corner 3-point attempt in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. But it wasn't just Butler's scoring that made a difference for the Heat, he was getting it done with his playmaking, rebounding and perhaps most importantly his defense.

The Celtics were outscored by 25 points in a nightmare third quarter, and that proved to be the difference in their Game 1 loss to the Heat.

Robert Williams was back in the Celtics' starting lineup for the first time since Game 3 vs. Those are the guys the Celtics need to come through in those situations. Boston was 24-for-32 (75 percent) from the charity stripe in Game 1. Brown was the primary culprit, going 6-for-10 from the line. The Sixth Man of the Year had 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes off the bench. Especially if Butler is going to be this much of a problem from the free-throw line going forward. He averaged 19.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists against the Celtics in the 2020 playoffs. That's the most points the Celtics have given up in a quarter this postseason and the fewest they've scored. The Celtics were 0-for-7 to begin the third quarter and didn't make a shot until seven minutes into the frame. Of his 41 points, 27 came in the second half. He was 12-for-19 from the floor and was a force on the defensive end with four steals and three blocks. The Celtics got off to a hot start and took an eight-point lead into the half.

The second-seeded Celtics have dropped four straight Eastern Conference finals, including three in a four-season stretch from 2017-20. While Miami has ...

"If both teams are really on top of their games, this should be a series where neither team is scoring 130 points. Both teams play hard, but both teams defensively are tops in the league, or one of the best for sure. "He's one of the best in the game right now," Butler said of Tatum. "As much attention as he draws on the offensive end -- and then I think what's really impressive is the way that he's picked up his defensive intensity. The Heat will be without point guard Kyle Lowry (left hamstring) for the seventh time in the past nine games. "He took a pretty bad fall, got bent up," Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. "It's the playoffs, and I feel like the deeper that you go, it's more intense, it's physical," veteran big man Al Horford said on Monday. "Even though the first round was very physical for us, it's not going to be any different. "This is like a throwback series," Spoelstra said. You got to tip your hat to that and respect him. Butler, a six-time All-Star, has topped 30 points five times in 10 starts this postseason. "Our guys love competition and love being challenged," Spoelstra said on Monday. "They love taking on big challenges. "Obviously, I was tired after every game and things like that, but my body has matured since my third season. They do it on both ends."

Ime Udoka on the third quarter: "We got out-toughed and out-physicaled. They looked like they want to up their physicality and aggression and we looked like ...

That made it 112-99 with 3:18 on the clock, prompting coach Udoka to call for a full timeout. Butler utilized that mismatch to help generate a game-high 41 points, going 17/18 at the free-throw line, and paired that production with nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks, leading his team in each category but that last one. He then attacked off the dribble and swung the ball to Strus, who swished a three from 27 feet. With 9:27 to play in the period, Vincent swished a three from 25 feet. But after that, Vincent continued having a terrific night, finding Tucker for a three from the right corner. With 8:21 left, Grant Williams cut into the paint, and as the ball came his way, a forceful collision between he and Adebayo resulted in both players being down on the court in pain. Pritchard then buried a three from the left corner to bring Boston within 14. With a minute left in the frame, Tatum drove into the paint and got two points courtesy of a floater to put Boston back on top 25-23. At the 2:59 mark, Grant Williams picked up his fourth foul, crashing into Tucker after a bad pass from Brown resulted in a turnover. Butler countered with a jumper from 20-feet, bringing the score to 62-54 Boston at halftime. As for the hosts, Miami produced 24 points in the paint, eight at the free-throw line, and eight off seven Celtics turnovers. Brown then made a nice pass to Williams for another bucket at the basket, giving him eight points at the 4:23 mark.

The Celtics embarrassed themselves in the third quarter. Celtics Heat Game 1 Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat celebrates a basket against the Boston Celtics ...

As a result, both Tatum and Brown played more than 40 minutes in a game the Celtics were never likely to win. 4. It’s worth remembering that the Celtics needed to revamp their game plan quickly after Horford was ruled out. 3. Robert Williams left the game grabbing at his knee in the fourth quarter, but Ime Udoka said he was simply cramping up in his first game back on the floor. The Celtics need a new plan if Smart remains out for the foreseeable future. “I think we have to come out with a little more sense of urgency in the third,” Tatum said. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown couldn’t stop turning the ball over (Tatum finished the third quarter with a staggering six), and the Heat embarrassed the Celtics — putting together a 20-2 run that erased the deficit and rendered the Celtics’ answering 9-0 run insufficient.

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat square off in what will be the fourth playoff series between the two teams since 2010. Their last meeting was in the 2020 ...

It isn't entirely surprising to see Vincent make an impact for the Heat, given he showed some flashes of this in the second round against the 76ers, but I imagine not many predicted that he would be the second-leading scorer among the starters for the Heat tonight. His third-quarter performance was one of the reasons the Heat managed to work up such a big lead, as he put up 10 points while playing all 12 minutes in the third quarter. One of the major storylines for the Heat heading into Game 1 was how this team would handle playing against a defense like the Celtics without their starting point guard in Kyle Lowry, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Boston needed that production in the third quarter when Tatum was getting swarmed and no one else could generate points. But the blame can't be entirely placed on Tatum's shoulders for that third-quarter performance. It resulted in just five points from the superstar forward, who struggled to find his shot again after a hot start to the game. Things really fell apart for the Celtics in the third quarter, as they got outscored 39-14 out of halftime after leading by eight points after 24 minutes. Butler's right, Pritchard, and everyone else Boston tried to stick on him couldn't contain him and it resulted in an explosive performance from the Heat forward, who now has scored 40 or more points three times in these playoffs. 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. 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. Butler also finished with three blocks, the last one of which felt like a statement, as he stuffed Tatum on a corner 3-point attempt in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. But it wasn't just Butler's scoring that made a difference for the Heat, he was getting it done with his playmaking, rebounding and perhaps most importantly his defense.

Led by another stellar outing from Jimmy Butler, the Heat outscored the Celtics 39-14 in the third quarter to take a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference ...

"We still had control of the game in the first half. Boston will hope to respond in Game 2 with Marcus Smart in the lineup. Coming off a seven-game slugfest with the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks -- a series Boston closed out in emphatic fashion on its home court in Game 7 -- the Celtics appeared to carry that momentum into the first half of this game. Tatum scored two points on 1-for-7 shooting in the second half, in addition to those six disastrous turnovers in the third quarter. We've got to be better. "We've got to be even more disciplined," Jaylen Brown said. The Heat needed to have that kind of reversal after the Celtics had controlled the first half with relative ease. The Heat scored 12 of their 19 points off Boston turnovers in the third. I've got to play better, especially in those moments. I've got to lead better. "The guys were just really disappointed at halftime," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. But then the third quarter happened.

Jimmy Butler scored 41 points, and the Miami Heat beat the short-handed Boston Celtics 118-107 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday.

Strus had one, the next two by Butler pushed the lead out to 76-64, and the Heat were off and running. Smart’s absence was somewhat expected because of a mid-foot sprain he suffered in Game 7 of the East semifinals against Milwaukee on Sunday. A 22-2 run was how Miami started the second half, the run punctuated by steals that led to baskets on three consecutive possessions. Tyler Herro scored 18 and Gabe Vincent added 17 for the Heat, who outscored Boston 39-14 in the third quarter. That’s a totally different thing and he does that as well as anybody in this league.“ “There’s a lot of guys in this league that are playing basketball.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals was essentially two different games. The Celtics played picturesque basketball in the first half, splashing threes, ...

Tatum had stretches of dispassionate play and frustration that was quite reminiscent of the bubble. Butler was the better player in Game 1 and, if that continues, the Celtics are indeed cooked. The question is whether the Celtics have enough savvy, bravado, and pride to push back. Obviously, the Celtics are going to lose toughness when Smart (foot) and Horford (health and safety protocols) are out. “That was the message after the quick timeout at the start of the half. We’ve got to get in there and get in the mix. The Celtics were disrupted from the opening of the third quarter. The Celtics put themselves in the position to make a statement in this series, outplaying the No. 1 seed in the first half. We reverted back [to bad habits] in the third quarter and it cost us.” Physicality is what catapulted the Heat to the NBA Finals two years ago, and nothing has changed, at least for the opening game. They left the third down 17, but the most infuriating part of the Celtics’ quest to steal Game 1 without two starters was it was still a winnable game. Yet there they were Tuesday, getting outhustled and outwilled in the second half.

The Celtics outscored the Heat in three out of four quarters. But a disastrous third frame stood in the way of them earning a win that would've made it ...

Ime Udoka conveyed the Celtics: "got out-toughed and out-physicaled. After the game, Tatum expressed the Celtics typically respond better than they did Tuesday night when teams go on runs, like the 22-2 rampage the Heat went on in the third quarter, saying: "I'll be the first one to say I take the blame for that. The Heat raised their effort and physicality and delivered a haymaker, outscoring Boston 39-14.

MIAMI (AP) — Un copropietario de los Celtics de Boston donará 2 millones de dólares para la protección de los manatíes de Florida y su hábitat luego de dos ...

La fundación es una organización caritativa familiar que supervisan el copropietario de los Celtics Rob Hale y su esposa, Karen, quienes poseen una residencia en Naples, Florida. Ambas cifras están muy por encima del promedio de cinco años de unas 350 muertes a estas alturas del año. "Estamos orgullosos de aliarnos con estas dos increíbles organizaciones que trabajan incansablemente para proteger a los manatíes y mejorar la salud de nuestros océanos y demás vías fluviales.

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 ...

It isn't entirely surprising to see Vincent make an impact for the Heat, given he showed some flashes of this in the second round against the 76ers, but I imagine not many predicted that he would be the second-leading scorer among the starters for the Heat tonight. His third-quarter performance was one of the reasons the Heat managed to work up such a big lead, as he put up 10 points while playing all 12 minutes in the third quarter. One of the major storylines for the Heat heading into Game 1 was how this team would handle playing against a defense like the Celtics without their starting point guard in Kyle Lowry, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Boston needed that production in the third quarter when Tatum was getting swarmed and no one else could generate points. But the blame can't be entirely placed on Tatum's shoulders for that third-quarter performance. It resulted in just five points from the superstar forward, who struggled to find his shot again after a hot start to the game. Things really fell apart for the Celtics in the third quarter, as they got outscored 39-14 out of halftime after leading by eight points after 24 minutes. Butler's right, Pritchard, and everyone else Boston tried to stick on him couldn't contain him and it resulted in an explosive performance from the Heat forward, who now has scored 40 or more points three times in these playoffs. 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. 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. Butler also finished with three blocks, the last one of which felt like a statement, as he stuffed Tatum on a corner 3-point attempt in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. But it wasn't just Butler's scoring that made a difference for the Heat, he was getting it done with his playmaking, rebounding and perhaps most importantly his defense.

Link Copied! MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 17: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball against the Miami Heat during the second quarter in Game One ...

The Celtics started the second half 0-6 and the Heat extended their run to 18-2 over the first six minutes of the third. However, that momentum didn’t last long as the Celtics continued to turn the ball over on a frequent basis. Miami raced out to a 10-1 run to start the second half, taking the lead 64-63 when Ime Udoka called a timeout. In the ensuing back-and-forth Miami briefly took the lead, but the Celtics had the advantage going into the break up 28-25. After missing their first seven shots, the Heat then hit seven of their next eight as they started to close the gap. Once the second half started though, turnovers and missed shots became a problem and allowed Miami to take control.

Boston looked predictably vulnerable in the fourth quarter, as Butler summoned Pritchard into one ball screen after another, a deliberate tactic that ...

The Heat won’t get to pick on Pritchard all series. (In the playoffs, the average offensive possession lasts 18.18 seconds after the Heat make a free throw, which is second only to the Jazz.) And they definitely did that to us in the first half.” (In the first two quarters, Boston added a whopping 17.9 points per 100 possessions to their offense in transition. “I've said it all year long, whenever we let our defense dictate our offense, we are a much better team,” Butler said after the game. It’s easier to score early in the shot clock against a scrambled opponent than one that’s had time to get organized. The series opener wasn’t defined by that action, either; even in the middle of his own methodical onslaught, Butler made a curious decision with a 13-point lead and about five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Once it was announced that Al Horford and Marcus Smart would miss Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it felt as if all the pressure quickly fell on the ...

Instead, it’s the Heat that won Game 1. Despite the Heat’s dominance in the third quarter, the Celtics looked like the (much) better team in the three other quarters. Nevertheless, the Celtics should feel fine about how Game 1 ended. Miami started paying attention to the details and locked in defensively. Boston made a run during the fourth but never got closer than seven points as the Heat cruised to a 118-107 Game 1 victory to take a 1-0 series lead. Even when the Heat was clicking, the Celtics always had an answer.

The CelticsBlog crew picks their winners in the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Tatum is far better than he was two years ago when the Heat defeated the Celtics in the bubble playoffs. The Celtics have the defenders to slow down Jimmy Butler and they are better equipped to put a body on Bam. Ultimately I trust the Celtics offense to get buckets more than the Heat. Bobby Manning: Allow me to zag and give the Heat the respect I didn’t in 2020. They just took down the defending champions – a team I believe is better than the Heat – and in a few weeks, Boston will make its first finals appearance in 12 years. That will be the difference in a hard-fought series. Surviving Milwaukee and winning 2 straight - convincingly - with their backs against the wall should provide this team a massive momentum boost against the Heat. I know it’s a quick turnaround from the last series to this one, but I don’t think it will hurt the Celtics, considering how strong they looked in games 6&7 against Milwaukee. And if that were to happen, and the Celtics go 3-0 at TD Garden, Boston in six is the result. They’re the number-one seed in the conference for a reason; they remained that way throughout the season for a reason. The quick turnaround somewhat concerns me, but Boston has been the best team in the league since late January, and I don’t see this Heat team slowing them down. The Celtics are playing more connected than a Celtics team has in almost 15 years. They want some revenge in the rematch, and they have an excellent chance to get it. I don’t think the Celtics lose a game in Boston. They’re going to have to win a game on the road, and if I had to guess, that’ll be in Game 1 or 2.

During a brutal third quarter, the Celtics looked like a hitter who'd been feasting on minor league pitching for weeks only to get a comeuppance against ...

The Celtics got better in the Brooklyn series from start to finish. While that obviously isn’t good, the Celtics figure to have a motivated Tatum for Game 2. But when the well-rested Heat ratcheted up their intensity and physicality in the second half, the Celtics weren’t able to match them. All the reasons to be concerned about the Celtics specifically in Game 1 proved warranted. Vegas oddsmakers had Boston as favorites to win the series but installed them as underdogs in Game 1. Boston rallied to make it closer in the fourth, but it was clear shortly after intermission that the Heat were going to win this game.

Boston's defensive-minded guard is reportedly hoping to return for Game 2 vs. Miami, while veteran center Al Horford seems likely to miss another game.

Overall, he is averaging 15 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game in the 2022 playoffs. Smart played in six of the seven games against Milwaukee. He missed Game 2 because of a quad injury. Typically, it has taken players who test positive a minimum of five days to escape the protocols. Horford averaged 13.0 points and a team-best 10.4 rebounds in the Celtics’ seven-game win over Milwaukee, starting all those contests. This is the start of Horford’s third stint in the protocols this season; he missed time in the preseason and Boston’s season opener, then missed five more games in December. Boston was already bracing for Smart — the league’s Kia Defensive Player of the Year — to be out, after he injured his foot on Sunday in Game 7 of Boston’s East semifinals win over Milwaukee. But losing Horford was a surprise blow to the Celtics, adding to the team’s lineup dilemma.

Things have been working out just fine so far in this postseason for Jimmy Butler and the top-seeded Miami Heat.

“I do what I do for my family, for my people, for my organization and for my teammates. “He’s comfortable,” Boston’s Jaylen Brown said of Butler. “He’s very comfortable right now, and we’ve got to do a better job of breaking that rhythm that he’s in. “I don’t care if it’s a big stage or a little stage or who is watching,” Butler said. Butler’s last 40-point game in the regular season came on Jan. 25, 2017, for Chicago — three franchises and more than five years ago. Since the NBA began charting each of those statistics, nobody has finished a postseason averaging so much in each category while shooting that well. It won’t be easy: The Celtics are 3-0 after losses in these playoffs, winning those bounceback games by an average of 14.7 points and getting two of those victories on the road.

The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics and No. 1 seed Miami Heat face off on Thursday at FTX Arena in Miami in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series.

Therefore, I'll take the Heat in Game 2 at -4." Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Both teams are averaging 96.7 possessions during the postseason, which would rank last in the league during the regular season. The Celtics don’t play a ton of guys as it is, and they’ve been playing every other day now for weeks, logging big minutes, and that’s going to take its toll. The Miami Heat are deep and a feisty defensive team that only makes things that much worse for Boston. Not to mention, Jimmy Butler is playing out of his mind right now and seems to be a man on a mission. Take the under. Jason Radowitz writes: "This series likely comes down to the final three games. The Heat have yet to lose at home these playoffs, and they’re winning those games by an average of 14.7 points. More: Boston Celtics vs. More: Boston Celtics vs. The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics and No. 1 seed Miami Heat face off on Thursday at FTX Arena in Miami in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series.

Jayson Tatum on the Heat seizing control of Game 1 in the third quarter: "I've got to lead better, I've got to play better in those moments, ...

If they rectify these mistakes from Game 1, they'll put themselves in an advantageous position to tie the series as it heads to Boston. Smart was unable to suit up for the series opener due to a right mid-foot sprain. Fortunately for Boston, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports is reporting that while Al Horford, who entered into the NBA's health and safety protocols Tuesday, is unlikely to be back for Game 2, the Celtics anticipate having Marcus Smart for Thursday's matchup. Entering the conference finals, Miami ranked ninth out of 16 playoff teams in points per game, producing 107.1 per contest, according to NBA.com. But the Heat make teams pay when they extend possessions. Invade his air space, and he's likely drawing contact to get to the free-throw line. Let's start with the obvious, committing 16 turnovers, including eight in that disastrous third quarter in Game 1, is unacceptable.

Marcus Smart (midfoot sprain) is listed as probable for Thursday's Game 2 against the Heat, while center Al Horford (health and safety protocols) is ...

This marks the third time Horford has been placed in the league's health and safety protocols. "We've got to be even more disciplined," Jaylen Brown said after that Game 1 loss. While Smart's absence wasn't expected to be long-term, Horford's return to play timeline is unclear.

The Celtics have released their first Game 2 injury report, and there's a positive update on Marcus Smart.

The C's released their latest injury report Wednesday evening, and Smart is listed as probable to play Thursday night. The Celtics started out great, jumping out to an 8-point halftime lead. Horford is in the league's Health and Safety Protocols and listed as doubtful for Game 2.