The outgunned Heat copped one of its finest wins in franchise history, splashing 13 first-half triples to stay within striking distance at halftime, and then the Celtics emerged from the break with even more suspect, three-point protection to close the game. Bam Adebayo outplayed Kristaps Porziņģis. And Tyler Herro had the top showing of his career.

The Heat was absent Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck).

Early, the visitors upped the pace, unsettling the hosts. Nikola Jović, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyler Herro each downed two trays against late closeouts.

On defense, the crew couldn’t stop Jayston Tatum in man-to-man coverage. He broke into the lane, making a layup, finished a lob on the break and hit three outside jumpers, totaling 14 of the Celtics’ 27 first-quarter points.

Through 12 minutes, the Heat led 28-27.

Afterward, Herro, Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith registered five 3-pointers in the second frame. Jović set up two teammates and drove left past Jaylen Brown from the top to the cup for a left-handed scoop. And Adebayo canned a fadeaway over Porziņģis in the paint and Euro-stepped into a layup on the break.

But Brown countered with the Celtics’ last 11 points to end the interval, making three 3-pointers and a layup on the break after stripping Jović in the post.

At halftime, the Heat was behind 58-61 and down on the glass by three. Additionally, the team had 10 paint points, five on the break, none via second chances, nine after turnovers and eight from the bench.

The Celtics racked up 28 interior points, 10 in the open court, six on extra tries, nine after turnovers and nine from the reserves.

Later, the hosts started the third producing on three of 13 attempts. In that span, Tatum was guarded by Adebayo for a bit, and the former didn’t attempt a shot with the latter on him. And Porziņģis kept failing on jumpers he usually makes facing closeouts or smalls on switches.

For the Heat, Herro, Martin, Highsmith and Duncan Robinson supplied six more artillery strikes in the third quarter. Adebayo cut up the baseline, dunking unchallenged, and slammed a left-side lob fed by Herro. And Martin scored an acrobatic layup on the break and zoomed by Brown for a basket through the middle.

The Heat entered the fourth quarter ahead 85-79.

Tatum was contained on two paint entries, and Porziņģis was invisible. Defensively, the Celtics deployed a weak 2-2-1 press.

Adebayo took charge the rest of the way, dribbling by Al Horford twice into the center for fall-away jumpers and making two shots off a pick-and-roll set with Herro. The rest of the Heat contributed five of 16 buckets to close the game, but it was enough.

The Heat won 111-101 and picked up one more rebound than the Celtics. Furthermore, the guests had 26 paint points, seven on the break, zero via second chances, 20 after turnovers and 20 from the bench.

Herro scored 24 points on seven of 13 attempts, with five rebounds, 14 assists, one steal and three turnovers. Adebayo logged 21 on his ledger on 69.2% accuracy, with 10 rebounds and two dimes. And Martin put up 21 points on seven of 12 looks, with two rebounds and a steal. Jović (11) and Jaquez (14) were the other double-digit scorers.

The Celtics had 46 interior points, 15 in the open court, eight on extra tries, nine after turnovers and 12 from the reserves.

Brown had 33 points on 13 of 25 shots and picked up eight rebounds, one assist, a steal, a block and three turnovers. Tatum accumulated 28 points on 50% shooting, with eight boards, three dimes and three turnovers. And Derrick White recorded 13 points on five of seven ventures, with one rebound and four assists.

Herro handled the on-court interview. He said, “We lost [badly] in Game 1, and everyone responded. That’s all you can ask for from a group of guys.”

The Heat made 23 3-pointers, a new franchise best for the Playoffs. The previous high was 20 triples in Game 1 v. the Bucks on May 22, 2021.

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The hosting Celtics were up nine points within two minutes on the Heat, compelling coach Erik Spoelstra to call an emergency timeout. It didn’t get much prettier after the first frame as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown zoomed by Jaime Jaquez Jr. to the cup. Kristaps Porziņģis feasted at close and long range. And Derrick White plus Dan Houser poured in a glut of trays; while the Heat were stopped from getting into actions, misfired makable shots and failed to generate trips to the line.

The Heat was absent Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck).

But the 2-2-1 press, a stretch of stops in the 2-3 zone, and a stimulus from vintage Kevin Love cut the deficit to three points at the start of the second quarter. Yet, it was short-lived, and the Celtics converted its next 11 of 21 attempts. Gang Green’s leading man in the sequence was sharpshooter Sam Houser, who buried four jumpers.

Tatum successfully isolated Haywood Highsmith and JJJ for midrange buckets, scored on the break and made four freebies.

On the other side, Adebayo tried to drag the crew forward, logging seven of 19 field goals.

Jaquez nailed a fadeaway over White in the post, finished two layups and spun past Houser into the lane on the right side for two points.

But Tyler Herro didn’t produce. He was hounded by White and Payton Pritchard, scoring once in the first half while they were on him. And on defense, Herro was lost, giving up multiple 3-pointers.

At halftime, the Heat was below 45-60 and out-hustled on the glass by six. Additionally, the team had 24 paint points, four on the break, two via second chances, two after turnovers and 12 from the bench.

The Celtics had 16 interior points, four in the open court, eight on extra tries, 12 after turnovers and 22 from the reserves.

Later, Brown scored twice, racing by the Heatles in transition and swishing two outside jumpers. White downed two triples as well.

Yet the visitors came out of the half registering four of 12 ventures, credited to Nikola Jović, Jaquez and Adebayo. The group followed up with six straight misses as the Celtics contested perimeter shots cleanly and disrupted rim attacks.

Subsequently, the Heat supplied 14 of 19 baskets in the fourth quarter but never came closer than within 14 points. The Celtics were already in clock control, taking only six attempts in the first five minutes of the fourth.

The Heat was slaughtered 94-114 and allowed the Celtics 10 more rebounds. To boot, the squad had 44 paint points, 13 on the break, five via second chances, 17 after turnovers and 29 from the bench.

Adebayo totaled 24 points on 10 of 18 attempts, with six rebounds and three assists. Delon Wright put up 17 points on 85.7% accuracy, with one rebound, three assists and two steals. JJJ had 16 points on 16 tries and recovered four rebounds and four assists. And Herro logged 11 points, making four of 13 baskets, with four rebounds and four assists.

The Celtics had 24 interior points, six in the open court, 11 on extra tries, 18 after turnovers and 30 from the reserves.

Tatum (23), White (20), Porziņģis (18), Brown (17), Hauser (12), and Al Horford (10) were the six Celtics who scored in double digits.

At the postgame presser, Herro said the Celtics pressured the Heat on both sides. He also included that
the team didn’t “play with enough force and effort on the defensive end.”

Spoelstra said, “It’s clear, Boston controlled this game from the tip. The very first possession, offensive rebound and three. And from there, they controlled it.”

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The undermanned crew held off the Bulls in the Play-In Tournament to advance to the first round against the 64-win Celtics. The high Heatles were Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr..

The Heat was absent Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (kneck).

Two nights earlier, the team laid a second-half egg vs. the 76ers that would have made its Playoff road much easier.

But on Friday, the Heat played unlike themselves, racing down the floor and snatching control of the first quarter on a 19-0 run supplied by Herro, Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jović, JJJ and Haywood Highsmith.

Defensively, the squad permitted six of 23 baskets in the first frame.

Then DeMar DeRozan scored a dozen points in the second quarter, pivoting past multiple defenders for a layup, dribbling through protections in transition and nailing a tray. He also blocked Herro’s floater from behind when defending a pick-and-roll set.

Coby White scored the two remaining Chicago field goals in the second in six tries. The rest of the visitors were stifled to a fruitless nine ventures.

Naturally, the Heat’s offense sunk in frame two as well, producing 13 points on 25% accuracy.

At halftime, the Heat was ahead, 47-37. The hosts also had 18 paint points, 10 on the break, six via second chances, six after turnovers and 15 from the bench.

The Bulls accumulated 10 interior points, two in the open court, four on extra tries, six after turnovers and four from the reserves.

Next, Herro came out of the break blazing for 12 points, hitting a fadeaway over Alex Caruso on the baseline, attacking the rim on a PnR play with Adebayo, splashing a transition trifecta and downing freebies. On top of that, JJJ cut from the left wing to the paint twice for dunks, and Kevin Love’s activity at close range against mismatches resulted in six filed free throws.

On the other side, Nikola Vucevic countered with a basket in the post and a pair of threes. And Ayo Dosunmu dribbled past Herro from the wing to the cup for a layup and made a corner triple.

Afterward, the Heat entered the fourth quarter up 82-60. The crew shut down Dosunmu by closing out on time to his attempted deep jumpers but allowed the rest of the Bulls 13 of 24 buckets.

Yet it didn’t count for much. The Heat’s advantage bloated to 29 points midway through the period as Love attacked Caruso in the post and swished a corner banger, plus JJJ and Herro feasted from short and long distance.

The Heat won 112-91, ending the Bulls’ season for the second straight year. The squad picked up nine more rebounds and logged 36 paint points, 20 on the break, 14 via second chances, 17 after turnovers and 42 from the bench.

Herro tallied 24 points on eight of 17 attempts, with 10 rebounds, nine assists and five turnovers. Jaquez had 21 on his scoring ledger on 50% accuracy, with five rebounds and six dimes. Kevin Love put up 16 points on two of six looks and picked up seven rebounds. And Adebayo had 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Bulls had 36 interior points, seven in the open court, 11 on extra tries, 11 after turnovers and 24 from the reserves.

DeRozan notched 22 points on eight of 16 tries, with three rebounds, four assists, one steal and a block. Vucevic scored 16 points on 41.2% shooting, with 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. And White had 13 points on 31.6% accuracy and recovered two rebounds and four assists.

Herro handled the on-court interview. He said, “I tried to be as much as I could of Jimmy [Butler] tonight, just trying to make the right play, get my guys shots and not force anything.”

Regarding the Celtics matchup in round one, Adebayo said, “It’s gonna be in the mud; it’s not gonna be pretty basketball.”

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The Heat’s quest to upstage the hosting 76ers in the Play-In Tournament was another late failed effort after taking control of the first half.

Terry Rozier (neck) was unavailable for the Heat. The 76ers were absent De’Anthony Melton (back).

Joel Embiid attacked Bam Adebayo early, forcing two early fouls in the post and on a drive. Next, Kevin Love subbed in for him as the Heat was down six points.

Butler guarded Tyrese Maxey and dunked twice on the break after steals plus downed two freebies within the first eight minutes.

Tyler Herro matched up with former Heatle Kyle Lowry and got loose for a pair of floaters- one dribbling into the paint against Embiid and another in transition.

Yet, the host causing the most damage was Maxey. He rattled in a tray and finished twice in the paint.

Eventually, the Heat deployed its 2-3 zone, then had its 2-2-1 press, taking time off the clock, leading into the scheme. And the guests took their first lead of the night with 28 seconds left in the frame after going behind by eight points.

But in the closing moments of the first, Butler went down after being fouled by Kelly Oubre and held his right knee on the ground. Pat Riley and Alonzo Mourning uncomfortably watched from their seats, and coach Erik Spoelstra looked like he’d seen a ghost.

Butler made one of two and limped to the bench.

But he stayed on the floor to start the second quarter and the Heat was still in zone defense.

Embiid and Maxey combined for one of seven baskets and Paul Reed was the lone 76er to make multiple in the second quarter.

Butler and Herro were no better on offense, but Adebayo bailed them out, catching a lob and hitting a jumper over Embiid. Subsequently, Caleb Martin, Love and Herro each hit a triple at the end of half, closing it on a 9-2 run.

The 76ers fans booed their team as it retreated to the locker room, and the Heat led 51-39 at halftime but was down on the glass by five. The squad also had 24 paint points, 11 on the break, eight via second chances, 17 after turnovers and 21 from the bench.

The 76ers had 18 interior points, six on the break, five on extra tries, two after turnovers, and seven from the reserves.

Then the Heat had another turd quarter experience. The group converted eight of 22 baskets against man coverage and the zone and its defense was solved.

On the other side, Nicolas Batum supplied three trifectas off Philly’s bench, and Buddy Hield added seven points.

The fourth began with the Heat above 74-69, but the hosts tied it up quickly and briefly seized the lead two minutes later.

Jaime Jaquez’s dunk through the middle and Haywood Highsmith’s floater on the left were two significant late baskets.

With Butler playing as a decoy, Herro was the only dependable on-ball scoring option. The latter put up 16 points, but when the team was down three with 28 seconds left, he had his triple blocked by Batum on the right side.

Highsmith instantly fouled Maxey and the free throw formality ensued.

Embiid, Batum and Oubre united for six of 13 baskets to close the game.

The Heat lost 104-105, gave up two extra rebounds, and committed two fewer turnovers. On top of that, the crew had 46 paint points, 13 on the break, 20 via second chances, 22 after turnovers and 40 from the bench.

Herro logged 25 points on nine of 27 tries, with two rebounds, nine assists and five turnovers. Butler had 19 points on 27.8% accuracy, with four rebounds, five assists and five steals. And Jaquez tallied 15 on his scoring ledger and picked up five rebounds, two assists and a steal.

The 76ers had 42 interior points, 11 in the open court, 15 on extra tries, 16 after turnovers and 36 from the reserves.

Embiid notched 23 points on six of 17 attempts, with 15 rebounds, five assists and three turnovers. Batum had 20 points, making 58.3% of his looks, with five rebounds and a block. And Maxey scored 19 on 16 attempts, with three rebounds, six assists and three turnovers.

At the postgame presser, Spoelstra said, “When you have a double-digit lead and a three-point lead going down the stretch, we just have to figure out a way to finish those games off.”

Spoelstra said Butler’s injury would be further checked out in Miami. 

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The outcome was important, but the Heat’s regular-season finale transpired as an expected rear-kicking with seven hosts in double-digit scoring and four recording at least four dimes against the understaffed Raptors.

The Heat were absent Terry Rozier (neck) and Duncan Robinson (back). The Raptors were missing Chris Boucher (knee), Jakob Poetl (finger), Immanuel Quickley (left adductor strain) and Scottie Barnes (hand).

Early, Jimmy Butler scored a putback in the lane and cut back door for a lob on the right side. Adebayo consumed four rebounds, notched a tip-in and dribbled into the paint, swishing a floater. And Jaime Jaquez Jr. added six points.

Kevin Love hurt his left arm going for a loose ball at the end of the first quarter. He did not return and the team said it was a contusion.

Yet visitors had the game tied through the first quarter. They misfired on all eight 3-point tries against man coverage and the zone but finished in the paint on eight occasions and made eight freebies.

Afterward the Heat went on a 36-13 run in the last seven minutes of the first half and seized total control the rest of the way. Wright, Butler, Herro, Martin and Adebayo flooded the Raptors with jump shots and Butler barreled into the square for a left-handed scoop.

At halftime, the Heat was ahead 67-46 and up on the glass by four. The crew also picked up 34 paint points, six on the break, 11 via second chances, 19 after turnovers and 20 from the bench.

The Raptors had 30 interior points, four in the open court, nine on extra tries, eight after turnovers and 14 from the reserves.

Then the Raptors were overwhelmed by the Heat’s backline and help defense, scoring only three of eight baskets in the restricted area in the third quarter.

On the Heat side, Adebayo cut into the paint thrice, dunking twice and making a layup. Thomas Bryant tallied two putbacks, two freebies and a two-foot basket. And Martin soared into the box for a booming jam and nailed a long two-point jumper at the top of the key.

Next, the fourth quarter started with the Heat above 94-71.

The Raptors only played two spot starters- Ochai Agbaji and Javon Freeman-Liberty- to close the match. The Heat forced six consecutive misses to begin the frame, contesting well in transition and on time from deep. But Jaquez and Bryant’s rim attacks and Delon Wright’s catch-and-shoot right-wing triple put the affair in garbage time with over seven minutes left.

The hosts won 118-103 and picked up two more rebounds. No starting Heatle logged more than 29 minutes, and the squad picked up 68 paint points, 16 on the break, 20 via second chances, 29 after turnovers and 36 from the bench.

Butler (15), Adebayo (17), Martin (12), Herro (17), Jaquez (18), Delon Wright (11) and Thomas Bryant (18) were the seven Heatles who scored in double digits.

The Raptors had 54 interior points, eight on the break, 24 on extra tries, 22 after turnovers and 42 from the reserves.

When asked about playing Wednesday in the Play-In Tournament against the Philadelphia 76ers, coach Erik Spoelstra said, “Could have been Tuesday and we would have been ready to rock.”

When asked about Love’s injury, Spoelstra said he suffered a stinger and will be evaluated on Monday.

Herro later mentioned his goal for the postseason is to stay healthy.

Adebayo said the team is going into the Play-In against the 76ers confident and that he expected to see defenses packing the paint.

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