Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis get Celtics past Heat

[February 12, 2024]  Jayson Tatum posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Boston Celtics defeated the host Miami Heat 110-106 on Sunday afternoon.
 
Kristaps Porzingis added 25 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the Celtics, who also received 20 points and nine rebounds from Jaylen Brown.  

Feb 11, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) drives to the basket as Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) defends during the first half at Kaseya Center. /Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Herro led Miami with 24 points. Bam Adebayo added 22 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

There were several injuries in the game.

With 4:43 left in the third quarter, the Heat's Terry Rozier drove to the rim and twisted his right knee after getting fouled by Al Horford. Rozier, who scored 13 points and dished a team-high six assists, did not return.

Miami also lost Josh Richardson to a first-half left-shoulder injury. Porzingis left the court in the third quarter due to a back injury but ultimately returned.

Jimmy Butler, who leads the Heat in scoring at 21.4 points per game, was out Sunday due a death in his family. No further details were released regarding Butler, who was given a leave of absence.

Boston improved to 3-0 against the Heat this season, including a 143-110 win over Miami on Jan. 25. There was no blowout this time.

Porzingis, hot early, had 11 points in the first quarter when Boston took a 26-22 lead. The Celtics had a 7-0 edge in second-chance points during the first quarter, and they outscored Miami in the paint, 18-8.

Tatum led Boston with 10 second-quarter points as the Celtics led 59-50 at halftime.

In the second quarter, Boston shot 61.1 percent from the floor, including 6 of 11 on 3-pointers. Miami, which shot just 35.7 percent, stayed in the game due to 11 points from Rozier.

Porzingis led all first-half scorers with 16 points, and he also led in rebounds (eight).

Miami had a 13-4 run in the third quarter but Boston ended the period with a 86-79 lead.

The fourth quarter featured a flagrant foul called on Brown for his hard yank of Duncan Robinson's left arm. Three free throws and a layup later, Miami cut its deficit to 96-92 with 7:44 left.

Herro's 3-pointer with 1:49 left cut Miami's deficit to 106-104. But Miami's Haywood Highsmith missed a 3-pointer that would have put the Heat on top, and Porzingis made two free throws to give Boston a 108-104 lead with 1:00 left.

The Celtics held on from there, shooting 50.6 percent from the floor for the game, including 16-for-39 on 3-pointers. Miami shot 41.2 percent, including 12-for-40 from deep.

--Field Level Media

[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.