Heat beat Celtics 117-114 in overtime
Heat survive knock-down, drag-out battle in Game 1
First, of course it was Jimmy Butler’s shot.
Second, of course itwas Bam Adebayo’s block.
Third, by all means, play that again. And again. Play that kind of spirited basketball for seven games, if necessary. And you kind of hope it is after the kind of playoff passion delivered in the MiamiHeat’s 117-114 overtime win against Boston in Game1of the Eastern Conference finals.
The night spilled over with drama, lead changes and certain heroes on each side. Butler, driving hard on Boston star Jayson Tatum, made the lay-in and the ensuing foul shot to put theHeat up 116-114with 12 second left.
Then Adebayo blocked Tatum’s drive to the bucket in the kind of statement play that seals reputations as much as playoff wins.
“That’s whatwe do,” Butler said..
So this is howit’s going to be. Two strong teams playing hard basketball into the deepest parts of the season. Each made the other blink on and off through the night they played so tough. There were times you couldn’t even see the Heat, for instance – and then each time they rebounded with defining play.
They shot a playoff-worst 27 percent in the first quarter.
They shot a playoff-best 68 percent in the second quarter.
They scored a playoff-low16 points in the third quarter.
They followed that with 35 points in the fourth quarter.
Up and down? That barely explains it. That’s what the Celtics can do to you with their style of play. And, well, it’s what theHeat did to the Celtics to the end, too. Every stepwas contested. Every basketwas big.
That’s what you expect at this advanced intersection of the playoffs. Boston isn’t an undermanned team like Indiana or a one-man junket like Milwaukee. TheHeat will have to pick up their play beyond their good performances in the first two rounds. There’s two guys that define theHeat’s challenge and they put fingerprints all over Game1.
Tatum andKeith Smart. They’re the duo. But when it came for the game to be won itwas Butler and Adebaylo.
The importance of Game1? Believe what youwill. The limited history of these teams says it means something. They met in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 postseason and the team thatwon the first gamewon the series.
Sure, thosewere different teams with different itmes. But nce again, we’re thrown in the maelstrom, locked in the furnace, feeling the temperature rise of a rivalry that’s heated and historic. (OK, it’s not historic in Boston, where they measure time in centuries, not clothing styles,.)
Thiswas the rivalry where the Celtics won in five games in 2010 and Dwyane
Wade said, “Thiswon’t happen again.”
Therewas LeBron James’ single-best career moment when in facing elimination in 2011and spectacular failure in the second year of the Big Three. He responded with a 45-point, 15-rebound masterpiece in Game 6 in Boston Garden.
Therewas Pat Riley’s masterful statement in answering Boston GeneralManagerDanny Ainge’s whining about LeBron whining: “Shut the f—- up.” (The best part of thatwas itwas passed out in the media roomon clean sheets of paper.)
Nowherewe are again. The rivalry is a bit hollowin the bubble. It will be selfgenerated with no fans, no noise – none of thewonderful vitriol spilling out of the home courts. It’s hard to say anything like that started in Game1. But give it a little time. Another game. The stakes are high and the emotions will be, too.
Butler made the biggest shot. Adebayo made the biggest stop. Play it again Thursday in Game 2. After a night like this, who knows what’s coming next?