Miami Heat falter late in pure shootout with Boston Celtics, 121-134

The Miami Heat entered Wednesday night’s matchup with the Boston Celtics 0-1 to them on the season after dropping a game to them back in their second game of the year.

Heading into this one without Jimmy Butler, though accustomed to it for the moment due to not having him for the last several contests, the Miami Heat would have a load to deal with in the conference and league-leading Celtics.

And that was a narrative that would begin to play itself out immediately upon the tip. Making almost their first 10 shots of the game before missing, several of them being threes, the Celtics would get out to a 17-4 run on the Miami Heat, and all before the 9:00 mark of the opening period.

That was a trend that would continue all night though and not just for the Celtics side. The Miami Heat would shoot the ball well too, going 47-90 (52.2 percent) from the field and 18-40 from range (45 percent).

The Miami Heat weren’t able to keep making shots like the Celtics were Wednesday. But they have nothing to hang their heads over, only to build upon.

The problem is that the Celtics got off more three-point looks, while they were more efficient with all of their shots. Though Boston wouldn’t take as many shots total, they would make more in going 46-83 overall (55.4 percent).

They would take five more threes than the Heat though, also making a higher percentage of those that they took at 22-45 from range (48.9 percent). Here’s the thing though—you really can’t be made at the Heat in this one.

The Celtics came out like pure napalm. They continued throughout and, not only, did the Heat catch them after that blazing start but continued to match them throughout.

The Miami Heat also hung tough all throughout the game, giving you big offense from guys like Max Strus, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro, while guys like Kyle Lowry, of course, but even Haywood Highsmith hit timely shots and made big plays.

The Miami Heat played a heck of a game, which they had to in order to match the intensity of this Celtics team, but that’s just it. They showed the capability to actually go do it and after all they’ve endured thus far early in the year.

And most importantly of all perhaps—without their best player in Jimmy Butler. The Miami Heat got beat, that’s for certain but if you are them, you are way more encouraged by this game than you are down about it.

And that only spells positive things moving forward, which starts in a Friday rematch against these same Celtics, a game where the Miami Heat may even have Butler in tow.