The Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers, stunned the Milwaukee Bucks and, in the opening game of the Eastern Conference final, made a comeback against the Boston Celtics. Miami started the series at the wrong end with an 8-0 run and got around 13 points in the first quarter, completely disrupting the offense. It hung around, though, and finally survived a clutch game after a brilliant, game-winning block by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in overtime with a 117-114 win.
Butler attacked the basket against Jason Tatum and scored with his outstretched arms, failing in the process and giving Miami a two-point lead with a 12-second save. On the next possession, Tatum yelled at Butler and erupted, but Adebayo found him on the rim and kicked the ball out. Tatam then missed the 3-pointer of despair at Buzzer.
With 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Butler hit a corner 3 to give the Heat a one-point lead, but, after a break, Derrick Jones Jr. gave the ball the wrong advice before entering the Celtics. Given. In overtime, Kamba Walker hit a jumper with a step remaining 23.2 seconds, but then Butler and Adebayo saved the day for Miami.
Butler finished with 20 points on a 7-for-14 shootout, but Heat’s most important offensive player was Golan Dragick, who had 29 points on an 11-19 shootout. Miami beat Boston 35-35 in the final frame and 11-8 in overtime.
Tatum scored 30 points on a 10-for-24 shoot and Marcus Smart added 26 points on a 9-for-18 shoot, but Kemba Walker took 6 for his score of 19. Miami beat Walker 2-. Tried to get out of rhythm by adding, trapping and switching 3 zones. This time, it worked pretty well.
Game 2 airs Thursday at 7 p.m.
