NBA Playoff game: Celtics 114, Heat 94

The NBA playoff game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat was a thrilling display of skill and determination. The Celtics dominated from start to finish, outscoring the Heat by 20 points with a final score of 114-94. The game showcased the Celtics' offensive prowess, with Jayson Tatum leading the charge with 32 points and Kemba Walker adding 25 points of his own. The team's defense was equally impressive, holding the Heat to just 94 points despite their best efforts.

On one hand, this is a perfect opportunity for revenge. They knocked us out last year and we can (and should) return the favor this year. Perhaps that motivation for revenge will prevent this team from getting overconfident and looking past the opponent the way they might have in facing the Chicago Bulls.

On the other hand, this Heat team is just not very good and without Jimmy Butler, they should barely register as a speed bump to this year’s version of the Celtics. Boston has much greater goals in this year’s playoffs and they simply have to do their job to advance to the next round. If anything, they should be focused on making quick work of this series so they can rest and prepare for the next one.

Derrick White added 20 points and four assists for Boston, which finished with six players in double-figures.

Miami spoiled the Celtics' NBA finals dreams last season, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the conference finals and then blowing them out in Boston in Game 7.

But Boston fed off the energy of the TD Garden crowd on Sunday, knocking down 22 3-pointers and outscoring the Heat 31-14 in the third quarter. The Celtics' lead grew as high as 34 points in the fourth. Miami used a late run to get as close as 14, but Boston was able to close it out.

The two teams have now played 21 games in the playoffs against each other since the 2019-20 campaign. The Heat hold the narrowest of advantages in the matchup, 11-10.

But it sure does feel as though the pendulum will swing back to Boston this year, potentially in a major way as Butler is forced to watch from the sidelines. Game 1 felt like a preview of a lopsided series to come.

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Sarah H

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