The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are no strangers to meeting in the Eastern Conference Finals in recent years, and in the first game of their third such matchup in four seasons, the Celtics came out early with the right sort of energy and focus on both ends, but got knocked off kilter by a strong Heat start to the third quarter and never regained their composure.
Solid outings from Jayson Tatum (30 points, 7 rebounds) and Jaylen Brown (22 points, 9 boards, 5 assists), Malcolm Brogdon (19 points), Marcus Smart (13 points, 11 assists), and Robert Williams III (14 points, 9 rebounds) were nearly enough. But, with the lack of focus and intensity that Boston brought to bear in the second half, a repeat performance against a team this disciplined might just be all it takes to send the Celtics fishing.
Let’s take a look at some of the best plays captured in images from the Celtics’ Game 1 vs. the Heat in the East Finals of the ’23 playoffs.
Paul George, DeMar DeRozan hope Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum stay together on the Boston Celtics https://t.co/1XbC0rxVsl
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 17, 2023
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