Celtics

The Miami Heat had revenge on their mind Friday night against the Boston Celtics after a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last ...

Vonleh in particular is doing well to assert himself as an interior presence off the bench for Boston in his limited minutes but the Celtics shined throughout this game by blocking jump shots from all over the floor by a crafty Heat team thanks to their anticipation. The Miami Heat had revenge on their mind Friday night against the Boston Celtics after a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last May. Jays shine again: On the heels of combining for 70 points, the Celtics star duo put on a show for the second straight game.

The Celtics thrived when Heat center Bam Adebayo was on the bench in foul trouble in the first and third quarters.

▪ It was just a matter of substitution patterns and positioning, but it was still interesting that Sam Hauser and Noah Vonleh came off the bench before Malcolm Brogdon. Two extra passes to open players outside the arc led to a wide open 3-pointer. ▪ In a familiar sight from last season, the Celtics constantly sought mismatches in which Tyler Herro was the primary defender, catching the Heat in screening actions that left them vulnerable. One possession after firing up an ill-advised 3-pointer, Marcus Smart atoned for it by slicing to the hoop for a layup that made it 106-99 with 1:22 left. Boston was in a good spot in the fourth before turnover issues became particularly glaring. Jayson Tatum had 29 points to lead the Celtics and Jaylen Brown added 28.

Former NBA shooting guard J.J. Redick issued a bold take regarding the Celtics this season during ESPN's "First Take" on Wednesday.

[facing off against the Miami Heat](https://nesn.com/bets/liveodds/nba/). I expect the Celtics and they should be the favorites to come out of the East.” He displayed the very production and second-unit depth that Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens acquired Brogdon for.

Meeting for the first time since last season?s Eastern Conference finals, the Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 111-104 on Friday at FTX Arena.

The 24-year-old also totaled five rebounds and three assists. Following the win, the Celtics next prepare to face off against the Orlando Magic during their second road matchup of the season on Saturday. Miami finished the night totaling 23 points off 19 Celtics turnovers. A $100 bet on White’s scoring total would’ve resulted in a $195.24 payout. The two combined for 57 points. The 25-year-old also totaled four rebounds and three assists.

Stashed Boston Celtics combo guard Juhann Begarin continues to shine in play for Paris Basket as that team played its first contest in EuroCup play against ...

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Ex-NBA player J.J. Redick explains why the Celtics should be considered the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference this season.

[threat to the Celtics in the East](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/where-do-bucks-rank-among-celtics-top-challengers-eastern-conference). The Celtics and Heat played a seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series last season, with Boston prevailing in a dramatic Game 7 down in Miami. The Brooklyn Nets are off to a rough start, but any roster with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons must be taken seriously. The Bucks are a talented, well-coached team led by arguably the best player in the league in Giannis Antetokounmpo. I expect the Celtics -- they should be the favorites to come out of the East." It wasn't a flawless performance from Boston by any means, but it was a strong showing against one of the league's most talented teams and perhaps the eventual NBA MVP winner in Sixers center Joel Embiid.

"This particular matchup in a seven-game series would be extremely tight," writes The Ringer's Michael Pina.

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Derrick White scored 10, Jaylen Brown added 9, and the team shot 6 free throws while not allowing Miami to get to the line. Noah Vonleh, looking like a steady ...

With Brown still on the Bench, Tatum hit Gabe Vincent with a behind-the-back dribble move and connected on the 10-foot floater, giving Boston a nine point lead. Marcus Smart was quiet all night, but he found a driving lane and connected on the layup at the 1:22 mark. The Celtics reclaimed the lead after Tatum first hit a tough floater over Martin’s stout defense, then drilled a step-back three that led to a Heat timeout. There was no energy in the building and seemingly a foul on every possession. After a clunky 1-for-6 start, the Celtics ended the quarter scoring on their final six possessions and led 30-22 after 12 minutes. Noah Vonleh, looking like a steady rotation player, ended the period with this emphatic dunk after tracking down a loose ball and spinning past his defender.

Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Jaylen Brown added 28 and the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat 111-104 on Friday night in a rematch of last season's ...

Miami also had a pregame moment of silence for referee Tony Brown, who died Thursday after an 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He has not made an October appearance in the NBA since 2018. Miami had been one of only two teams without an 0-2 start in the last 15 seasons; now, Portland is the only team on that list. The Celtics' longest winning streak in Miami is five, done twice (1988-90, 2015-17). That's around the time Miami put together perhaps its best stretch of the night. "And I love playing against the Heat.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat NBA basketball game on October 21, 2022.

He has not made an October appearance in the NBA since 2018. Miami also had a pregame moment of silence for referee Tony Brown, who died Thursday from pancreatic cancer. The Celtics’ longest winning streak in Miami is five, done twice (1988-90, 2015-17). But just when Miami got the lead, Adebayo got his fourth foul, then a technical, the game changed. It’s the other end we’ve got to lock in on.” That’s around the time Miami put together perhaps its best stretch of the night. “There was definite improvement from Game 1 to Game 2." They’ve got a lot of fire, a lot of great players, a great coach.” Miami had been one of only two teams without an 0-2 start in that span; now, only Portland is on that list. “Our guys love playing defense," Mazzulla said. [Jayson Tatum](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) and the [Boston Celtics](http://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics) keep on enjoying their trips to Miami. [Jaylen Brown](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) added 28 and the Celtics beat the [Miami Heat](http://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/mia/miami-heat) 111-104 on Friday night in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference finals.

Jaylen Brown and the Celtics beat the Heat on Friday, their second straight victory over an East contender to start the season.

I think we can be even more spaced, I think we can take care of the ball better, I think we can be better on defense than we’ve been. Several of their blocked shots were a result of their length when the Heat tried to rise up for jumpers. “I think we played two really good teams, two tough teams, physical teams, and we handled it pretty well, but I think we can be even better. The Celtics blocked 11 shots on Friday, including three by Derrick White, two by Brown and two by Tatum. He is, he’s sacrificing to come off the bench and make us a better team. Malcolm Brogdon struggled from the floor and didn’t look comfortable in the flow of the offense, but he still helped the Celtics by moving the ball and even collapsing the defense when he missed, which opened up opportunities for offensive rebounders. “Obviously, [he’s] somebody who would be a starter on the majority of teams in the NBA, sacrificing. That bit him in the third quarter as the Heat erased their deficit and took a one-point lead, but the Celtics rallied just fine in the fourth when Mazzulla once again let them play through a Heat run. Instead, he powered his way to the basket and consistently messed with the timing of Heat defenders by catching his dribble and finishing with one hand. “Obviously you want to win every game you play, but some of these early games can be used for learning purposes later in the season,” Tatum said. The Heat started the third quarter hot and put together a 20-6 run that helped them take a one-point lead. Tyer Herro helped the Heat stay afloat with 13 second-quarter points, but the Celtics maintained their eight-point lead going into halftime thanks to 25 combined points between Brown and Tatum.

A 20-6 run to close out the third quarter in Miami helped the Celtics get off to their first 2-0 start in 13 years.

Brown picked up his fifth personal with 5:44 remaining in the game with Boston holding onto a 100-93 lead. Jayson Tatum got the stretch started by making a technical free throw, then a running jumper, followed by a 3-pointer to give the C’s a four-point lead. This time, Brown and Tatum posted nearly identical stat lines across the board. Miami had been leading 71-69 at that point, but after its starting center went to the bench, it was outscored 20-6 to close out the frame. In Game 2, we almost found ourselves in a repeat scenario. Miami’s Bam Adebayo may have had the most impactful presence on the court Friday night.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine for 57 points in Miami, leading Boston to its 1st 2-0 start since 2009-10.

While he was on the court, Miami was 20 points better than Boston. So in the opener, Lowry took seven, made only one and scored two points. Settling into a cooperative was part of Boston’s transformation after two months last season, leading in time to the Finals. Tatum got the full focus of Miami’s defensive energy from that point but scored six of the Celtics’ final 11 points. Long gone are the days when the two dynamic wings seemed locked in a tug o’ war for offensive supremacy. Then Tatum got 29 and Brown 28 against the Heat. It has juggled the pecking order for shots, while rendering the Heat somewhat toothless at the other end. The Heat gave up 116 points in their opener to a Bulls lineup missing starter Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball. Nobody’s buying the Heat a cake for numbers like that. But Boston as a team hit the vaunted 50/40/90 mark, its shooters collectively making 52.9% of their field goals, 42.4% of their 3-pointers and 15-of-15 free throws. Miami wound up dropping 15 of its first 19 games that season, Pat Riley’s last as coach, so this is something it wants to nip in the bud ASAP. Forty-eight hours removed, not five months, they knew they had failed a dozen different ways in the loss to the Bulls.

Noah Vonleh and Sam Hauser have emerged as surprise key contributors for the Celtics bench this season, earning some praise from Boston's top star.

Boston’s bench outscored the Heat 27-21 overall as Brogdon overcame a tough shooting night with some big rebounds and assists down the stretch while Jaylen Brown was sidelined in foul trouble. That move also paid off as Hauser knocked down a pair of 3s in the second half and was a plus-12 in his 13 minutes of action. There are some reliable parts like Malcolm Brogdon and Grant Williams that are a part of the fold in the second unit but a few surprise names have emerged in the rotation as well for Boston as seen on Friday night in the team’s road win against the Heat.

Minus its leading rusher, North Medford didn't skip a beat Friday night in posting a dominant 52-6 win over McNary in Keizer.

NM — Angulo 6 run (Knobloch-Scott kick) There’s definitely two main staples of what our team has really identified itself with in the last six weeks, and that’s our defense and our run game. And with whoever’s running the ball, those five guys in front plus (tight ends AJ Pugliano and Kellen Thomey) in the mix, our run game is pretty solid.”

Joe Mazzulla is the first Celtics coach to begin a season 2-0 since Doc Rivers in 2009-10. Read more on Boston.com.

It’s like we’re in a relationship, and we’re all on the same page and trying to accomplish the same thing. “Certainly, I think Udoka’s career is likely going to be somewhere else.” But Mazzulla’s squad has seemed to avoid any turmoil (for now) that could have come in the wake of Ime Udoka’s suspension for breaking the team’s personal conduct policy. “I think for Joe Mazzulla, right away he challenged his team and said ‘Listen, people think we’re going to be vulnerable now.’ He really got them on course with his leadership. This is a Celtics team, with all the talent they have, I think having the key players on his side, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Marcus Smart, that’s been immense for him.” “The outlook for Joe Mazzulla is that he’s got every opportunity, even a likelihood, that he’ll be able to shed the interim tag at the end of the season and be the Celtics’ long-term coach,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” Friday night.