While the spotlight might not be entirely on the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat this Super Bowl Sunday, a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals offered an exciting appetizer to a day filled with sports entertainment as the Celtics earned a hard-fought 110-106 win over the Heat.
With the win, the Celtics swept the season series over Miami for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Super Bowl Sunday has treated the Celtics quite nicely. Sunday marked the 41st all-time game for Boston on Super Bowl Sunday, with the Celtics advancing to 28-13 in those games. Their 28 wins on Super Bowl Sunday are the most by any team in the NBA.
For the fourth consecutive game, Jayson Tatum flirted with a triple-double, finishing with a game-high 26 points to go along with his 10 rebounds, nine assists (also a game-high), and two blocks. Kristaps Porzinigs also had a big night, finishing with 25 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, despite leaving the game in the third quarter due to a low back contusion. The big man did return for the final frame.
For Tatum, it marked his 19th double-double of the season.
Tyler Herro led the way for the hosts, pouring in 24 points, while Bam Adebayo contributed another 22. The Heat were without Jimmy Butler (personal reasons) and also suffered setbacks with injuries to Josh Richardson and Terry Rozier during the game
Here are three takeaways as the Celtics kick off their two-game mini-road trip with a win, earning their ninth win in their last 11 games.
Finding a way
Behind a monster 16-point, eight-rebound first half from Kristaps Porzinigs and 26 combined points from Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics took a nine-point lead into the halftime locker room.
After an Adedayo 10-foot pullup jumper to open the third quarter, the Celtics went on an 8-0 run, building their lead to a game-high 15 points a little over two minutes into the frame.
However, in their traditional cockroach-like nature, the Heat would surrender, rallying with a run of their own, cutting the Boston lead down to just four.
From there, it was a game of runs, but Boston made enough plays down the stretch to fend off shorthanded Heat, advancing to 18-8 in clutch games this season.
Led by the three-headed monster of Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis making plays on both ends of the floor down the stretch, the Celtics found a way to win, a common theme this season.
The defense stepped up big when needed most. Boston allowed just two points over the final 1:49 and five points over the final 2:54.
The missing piece
Losing to this very Miami Heat team inspired Brad Stevens and the front office to go out and make the changes they did this season.
Many fans and analysts widely view Porzingis as the "missing piece for the Celtics," on Sunday afternoon; we got another reminder as to why.
Miami had no answer for Boston's new weapon.
In the past, Miami's diverse defense, featuring a healthy mix of zone and switching, has given Boston fits – especially in last year's Eastern Conference Finals. However, Porzingis and the Celtics had answers for everything Miami threw at them.
His ability to space the floor, punish switches, expose mismatches, and dominate the post was fully displayed.
He had an answer for any defensive scheme Erik Spoelstra threw at the Celtics. Spoelstra, one of the greatest basketball minds on the planet, had no answers in either of Boston's three games against the Heat this season.
In his three games against Miami this season, Porzingis has totaled 61 points on 20-of-35 (57.1%) shooting, with 22 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Porzingis gives Boston a whole new dynamic on both ends of the floor and has emerged as one of the most dangerous players in the league with the Celtics. He is everything the Celtics could have hoped for this season, making for a perfect marriage between the two.
Defensive rebounding
Defensive rebounding has been a problem for the Celtics as of late, and that continued Sunday afternoon.
Boston surrendered 14 offensive rebounds to Miami, resulting in 23 second-chance points.
In their last five games, the Celtics have allowed 65 offensive rebounds, resulting in 65 points for their opponents.
Although Boston has been a terrific rebounding team this season, this is an area they will need to clean up.
