Crucial Point
If you’ve heard this before, stop us: on national television, the Celtics and Heat became heated during a down-to-the-wire game.
As usual, these teams fought until the very end when they squared off on Sunday on ABC. The Heat just failed to make the crucial plays that the Celtics needed to make in order to win the game this time.
The Celtics completed the following actions in order to win in the last minute:
With one minute remaining in a two-point contest, Kristaps Porzingis not only pulled down a crucial defensive rebound but also inadvertently fouled Caleb Martin.
Then, Porzingis made both of his free throws to increase the lead by twice to four.
Next, with assistance from Porzingis, Jayson Tatum guarded Bam Adebayo in isolation and forced a miss.
With 15.7 seconds remaining, Porzingis then tipped an offensive rebound out to Jaylen Brown on the other end, giving Boston an additional opportunity. The Celtics pressed for a break.
Then, with 14.6 seconds remaining, Tatum intercepted an inbound pass, was fouled, and made two free throws to win it.
On the other side of the ball, Miami failed to make a single play over the final minute that would have provided the Heat with a chance to win. Martin was the one who fouled Porzingis. Adebayo, unable to score against Tatum, resorted to a midrange jumper, which is not his strongest shot, but it was missed. The defensive rebound that Porzingis lobbed out to Brown was not grabbed by Miami. And at that time, the game was done.
Miami produced a surge,
Important Person
There’s nothing quite like threatening to record a triple-double while shooting 55 percent from the field on national television. That’s exactly what Jayson Tatum accomplished on Sunday afternoon in Miami, as he recorded career-highs of 26 points, nine assists, and a team-high ten rebounds.
Tatum, a five-time All-Star now, shot 11 of 20 from the field and dominated the whole game. He put pressure on Miami’s defense to rack up the highest scoring total of the game. Tatum only hit two 3-pointers and only made two free throws, but he did make nine shots from the short midrange and near the rim. His nine assists were also a third of Boston’s team total of 27, and nearly half of Miami’s team total.
Tatum also exhibited dominance on defense. At that end of the court, he blocked two shots and pulled down nine of his ten rebounds. Only Al Horford’s three blocks during the contest were greater than those two. In the last minute, he forced Bam Adebayo to miss a crucial opportunity to post him up.
It’s also important to remember that Tatum accomplished all of this with only one turnover. That’s one turnover in almost 39 minutes of play, while being the center of attention for Boston’s attack and dealing with double teams and traps all game long. Very impressive work from the superstar wing.
Nuggets of Box Score
As many shots were blocked by Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jayson Tatum of the Celtics as by Miami as a team.
In terms of assists (nine) and points (26) Tatum was the game’s leader. He also pulled down a team-high ten rebounds.
Miami scored 23 second-chance points, while Boston scored 19, meaning that both teams scored at least 19 points.
There was not a single fast break point scored by the Celtics.
Jrue Holiday made five of six long-range shots.
With 25 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, Porzingis packed the stat sheet.
Tyler Herro scored 24 points to lead Miami.
Jaylen Brown finished with nine rebounds and twenty points.
With 15 points, Duncan Robinson led all substitutes.
For the whole of the last three plus quarters, Boston maintained the lead.
The Night’s Quotation.
The Night’s Quotation
“It was merely responding to their runs. They make a strong team. The NBA is this. They are going to run. All you have to do is respond to it and endure it.”
– Jayson Tatum on sabotaging Miami’s effort at a comeback
