Tyler Johnson’s big game not enough to push Heat past Celtics

Tyler Johnson’s stellar performance kept the Miami Heat afloat, but the hometown Celtics proved too much to overcome as the Heat dropped their second straight.

Welcome to the Hot Hand, where after every Miami Heat game win or loss we recognize the player who best put his stamp on the game. 

On the road against one of the top two teams in the East, Tyler Johnson’s valiant effort off the bench wasn’t enough to push the Miami Heat past the Celtics following another 30-point performance from Isaiah Thomas.

Johnson finished the night with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals on 9-of-15 shooting, knocking down all six of his attempts from the free throw line. He also recorded a couple of assists and provided a key spark when Miami needed it the very most.

Using a wide variety of drives and mid range shots, Johnson carved up the Boston defense with ease, showing the Celtics faithful why he warrants the salary he does.

On a night when the Heat struggled mightily on the defensive end (Boston shot 53.2 percent from the floor), Johnson was the main bright spot during an unfortunate two-game skid.

One of the better bench players in the NBA, Johnson boasts averages of 13.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists (all career-highs) while playing right around 30 minutes per night.

With Johnson on the floor, Miami proved to be much more effective on the offensive end, with points coming in bunches. Literally.

Points (Per 100 Possessions)

Johnson on court: 118.6

Johnson off court: 84.6

Field Goal Percentage (Per 100 Possessions)

On court: 52.8 

Off court: 34.2 

Quite a disparity, and while Johnson himself didn’t knock down a three, the Heat proved much more lethal from that distance with him in the lineup.

Three Point Percentage (Per 100 Possessions)

On court: 35.7

Off court: 13.3

Needless to say, Johnson has been one of Miami’s more consistent offensive weapons all year, and while the Heat were unable to squeak by, in the end, with playoff hopes on the line, the young guard delivered.

Once again,  Miami failed to muster up a valiant defensive effort down the stretch, and once again, it came back to haunt them.

”I don’t think it was the offense that really got us, that (is) inhibiting us from winning games,” Johnson said. ”I think it’s getting stops down the stretch. We scored 108 points, so that’s enough to get the job done.”

The Celtics have now swept the Heat in back-to-back seasons, and it doesn’t appear that trend will come to an end any time soon.

All I can say is, the losing better stop now, or Miami will find itself with a long, long offseason and one of the most wasted memorable win streaks on recent memory.

It’s playoffs or bust for Erik Spoelstra and company now, and that is a fact he is quite aware of.

”This is what happens with competition,” Spoelstra said. ”It’s not only up to you. They have something to say about it as well. They just made some big, timely plays.”

With plenty of competition left on the horizon, another win streak may be just what the Heat need, but this time, it will be largely without Dion Waiters.

Miami (35-38) will next travel to the Motor City for a match up with the Detroit Pistons tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. ET.