Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porziņģis were the two best players on the court Sunday afternoon against an injury-depleted Miami Heat club. And that proved to be sufficient to help the Boston Celtics win.
In the team’s 110-106 victory, Tatum recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Porziņāis chipped in with 25 points and 9 boards.
Miami’s record dropped to 28-25, while the Celtics are currently 41-12 on the season.
The Heat had a difficult afternoon as Terry Rozier had a right knee injury in the second half and Jimmy Butler was sidelined for personal reasons.
However, Miami persevered, resilient as usual, driven by strong efforts from Bam Adebayo (22 points, 13 rebounds) and Tyler Herro (24 points, five rebounds, five assists).
The Celtics currently hold the best record in the NBA, but after several disappointments in the playoffs in recent years, it’s championship or bust for this group.
“We’re better than we were last year. But we have a long way to go,” Tatum said on ABC’s broadcast after the game. “A lot of things we can improve on.”
The Celtics and Heat have certainly built an excellent rivalry, but it’s been a one-sided affair this season. Sunday’s result meant the Celtics swept the season series, 3-0, which should give them a fair bit of confidence if these teams yet again meet in the playoffs.
