Turning out the lights is a very good strategy to employ when you lose your best player.
The Miami Heat won Game 2 111-101, tying the score in the first round of the NBA playoff series with the Boston Celtics.
The reigning Eastern Conference champions, without Jimmy Butler, subjected Boston to a barrage of 3-pointers, making 23 of 43 from beyond the arc. All five Heat starters scored in double figures, with Tyler Herro (24 points, 14 assists) leading the way. Bam Adebayo (21 points, 10 rebounds) also had a double-double.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 61 points. However, their supporting cast was noticeably absent. Kristaps Porzisis in particular was disappointing, scoring six points on 1-of-9 shots.
The Celtics can take some solace in the fact that this type of shooting performance was an outlier for Miami. The Heat ranked 19th in 3-point percentage (12.5 per game) and 12th in 3-point percentage (37.0) during the regular season, but were slightly worse in both categories in the postseason.
Despite Miami's unusually strong performance from deep, Boston remained within range throughout. Some may think that Game 3 is clearly becoming a regression to the average situation.
Still, the memory of the Celtics losing in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals lingers. Wednesday's contest was one of those that makes you wonder if the Heat simply have the numbers.
Results like this also support the narrative that the Celtics, in stark contrast to their opponents, aren't built for prime time.
It's too early to declare that Boston faces a must-win situation, but imagine if Boston goes on the road and loses Game 3 in Miami.
There would be absolutely no excuse for a second straight loss to the Heat without Butler in the lineup. If the Celtics want to prove they are a true championship contender, they better make a strong statement Saturday night.
