The Miami Heat only made the playoffs through the NBA play-in tournament. Now they started the final series of the Eastern Conference with a win. Once again, Jimmy Butler excelled.
The Miami Heat have won the first final game of the Eastern Conference in the North American basketball professional league NBA. Led by Jimmy Butler, the Florida team beat the Boston Celtics 123-116 (57-66). With 35 points, Butler was the best pitcher of the game, but also shone with seven assists and six ball wins.
After a first half dominated by Boston, the Heat turned up the heat after the break. In the third quarter, Miami scored 46 points, the most in any quarter in playoff history. They didn’t give up the lead until the end of the game. Six players in the Heat scored at least 15 points.
Tatum ended up with mistakes
Boston star Jayson Tatum had 30 points but stayed out of the game without a goal in the final quarter and conceded two turnovers just before the end.
Miami only got into the playoffs via the play-in tournament and then sensationally eliminated the best main round team, the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks. The Heat have now started all three playoff series with away wins.
Second game back in Boston
The second game of the best-of-seven series is on Friday evening (local time) again in Boston. A team needs four wins to advance to the NBA Finals and have a shot at the title. The Celtics and Heat face off in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in the last four seasons. Last year Boston prevailed in seven games.