Jimmy Butler and the Boston Celtics went head-to-head, and the Heat will return to Miami with a chance to advance to the NBA finals.
Friday night, the eighth-seeded Miami Heat defeated the ninth-seeded Boston Celtics, 111-105. Jimmy Butler tallied 27 points, including back-to-back baskets to tie the game and give Miami the lead.
Butler also contributed eight rebounds, six assists, and an emotional boost after Boston’s Grant Williams began jawing with him: Butler stared down Williams, resulting in technical penalties for both players.
Then, ‘Jimmy Buckets’ scored nine points during a 23-9 run that converted a nine-point deficit into a 105-100 advantage.
Caleb Martin, who scored 25 points off the bench, said, “I knew that would be advantageous for us.” “We’ll take crazy Jimmy any day. You could see in his pupils that he was prepared to pursue that.”
Miami returns home with a chance to sweep and become just the second No. 8 seed to reach the NBA finals. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 22 points, 17 rebounds, and nine assists.
Game three is scheduled for Sunday evening.
Williams stated, “He will have to make every single difficult shot for the remainder of the series.” And I’m not going to turn around and look the other way because I revere him as a player.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum had 34 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. In the fourth quarter, however, the Celtics star went 0 for 3 with two turnovers as Boston squandered an 89-77 lead en route to a second home loss in three nights.
After finishing 13 games ahead of the Heat in the regular season and witnessing top-seeded Milwaukee lose to Miami in the first round, the Celtics have faltered on what appeared to be a clear path to their second consecutive NBA Finals appearance.
“It’s not easy. It is challenging. “However, there is no point in being up here miserable and such,” Tatum stated. “Upon entering, they won two games. They performed well; they deserve credit. But we’re not exactly deceased. We have an excellent opportunity. I continue to have complete confidence. Everyone has the highest degree of assurance. We must immediately prepare for Game 3.”
Jaylen Brown tallied 16 points on 7-for-23 shooting; in the fourth quarter, when Miami outscored Boston 36-22, he went 1-for-5 with a turnover.
“I adore the fact that we have pets. Butler said on the postgame television broadcast, “I enjoy every aspect of it.” “Guys never stop. We never quit. We enjoy playing together tremendously. And we have so much faith and confidence in one another.”
The Celtics extended their lead to 12 points early in the fourth quarter after leading by 11 at the end of the third. Williams made a three-pointer to make the score 96-87, and on his way back down the court, he spoke with Butler. Butler scored on the other end and Williams fouled him; the two players collided, garnering double technical fouls, before Butler made the subsequent free throw.
“A wholesome dose of competition. I’m not going to tell you an untruth. A healthy level of competition. And I enjoy it. I am constantly here to contend. I like to speak, at times,” Butler said. “As long as we get the victory, I’m satisfied.”
When asked if Boston “poked the bear” by infuriating Butler, Brown responded, “Next question.” Butler, however, stated unequivocally that the attempt to distract him energized him.
“Yes it did,” Butler said. “However, that is simply competition at its apex. He made a great shot and then began speaking to me. But I like that. It is simply competition. It strengthens the will to triumph. And it makes me grin. … I’m not sure if I was the ideal person to speak with.”
After Tatum’s long-range failure, one of three in the fourth quarter, Butler drove to the basket to give Boston a four-point lead. Butler was called for an offensive penalty for kicking Marcus Smart after landing on a missed three-point attempt with Miami trailing 98-96.
Erik Spoelstra, coach of the Heat, contested but lost.
Butler answered.
He made a 17-footer to tie the game at 100, and then a short fadeaway to put Miami in front. With less than a minute remaining, Adebayo scored a putback layup to make the score 105-100 after Max Strus made one of two free throws.
Spoelstra stated, “I adore that ferocious Jimmy.” “However, you obtain that regardless. I believe that people are now simply paying more heed… Jimmy is a genuine competitor.”
Boston utilized a 21-2 surge to turn an eight-point deficit in the first quarter into an 11-point advantage.
