Boston, May 18 (BNA): The Miami Heat needed a quiet presence after a slow start to their latest Conference Finals showdown with the Boston Celtics.
Jimmy Butler provided that and so much more.
Butler scored 35 points, including 20 after halftime, and the Heat recovered in the second half to beat the Celtics 123-116 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that he said his teammates gave him confidence.
“I’m playing at an amazing level because they let me do that,” Butler said. “They don’t put a limit on my game. They trust me with the ball, on the defensive side. I think that’s what any basketball player wants.”
Miami trailed by nine points in the first half before turning it around by scoring 46 points in the playoffs scored in third place and beating Boston 66-50 during the final two quarters. It was Butler’s fifth game with 30 or more points this postseason, and he added seven assists, six rebounds, and five rebounds.
The tip of the series marked the third time in four seasons that the Heat and Celtics had met in this round. Boston won last year’s game in seven games.
The opening on Wednesday looked like a continuation of the last meeting. Boston dominated inside early and led by nine in the first period.
Spoelstra said his team had been “more deliberate” over the last 24 minutes.
Miami took a page out of the Celtics book and used a 13-1 run to quickly erase that gap, tying the game at 78 in the third quarter.
Boston couldn’t stop the offense, then Miami came back on top as Butler broke through to create chances for his teammates.
The Heat outscored the Celtics 46-25 in the period and took a 103-91 lead in the fourth, prompting some boos from the TD Garden crowd.
Boston responded, scoring the first seven points of the final period before Vincent finished with a three-pointer.
Miami led 114-109 with just over three minutes to play when Brogdon was fouled by Butler. But he connected with only one of his two free throws. Butler was trapped on Miami’s next possession before finding Martin for a corner 3.
Tatum drove in, turning the ball back into the heat. Miami fouled the ball back to Boston, but Tatum was called back for travel.
Miami stopped the shot clock before Butler got a 3-pointer to go in with 1:03 remaining.
But everything changed in the second half.
“We play really good basketball,” said Butler. “More than anything, we stick together through the good and the bad.”
ZHB