BOSTON — If the Celtics finished how they started Saturday afternoon, they would have been in deep trouble. Fortunately for Boston, they did the exact opposite.
The Celtics shook off the rust from a sluggish start against the Miami Heat, quickly erasing an early 10-point deficit and closing out the game on a 15-5 run to earn a 101-89 win at TD Garden.
Defense dominated the day, as the Heat combined to block 12 Celtics shots and both teams shot under 42Â percent from the floor. Marcus Smart was Boston’s high scorer with 15 points. Evan Turner (14 points, nine assists) and Tyler Zeller (14 points) also made solid contributions off the bench, while Jared Sullinger notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Goran Dragic dropped a game-high 21 points, while Hassan Whiteside was an absolute beast with 13 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks.
The Celtics now own a two-game lead over the Heat for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
STARTING FIVE
Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson, Jared Sullinger
AFTERNOON BLUES
The Celtics apparently aren’t took keen on 3 p.m. ET start times.
Boston played one of its ugliest quarters of the season, making just seven field goals while committing six turnovers and going 0 for 4 from 3-point range against the Heat.
On the other end, the C’s looked disengaged, as Dragic (eight first-quarter points) beat them to the rim on several occasions, and 33-year-old Amar’e Stoudemire did this:
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/703676702795407362
TURNING THE TIDE
Turner pretty much put the team on his back to help the Celtics wake up in the second quarter.
Turner racked up seven points in just over two minutes of action as part of a 13-4 Boston run that gave it a one-point lead after trailing by double digits earlier in the game.
The reserve swingman also dropped his fair share of dimes, tallying six assists in the first half including this sweet lob to Crowder:
PICKING UP THE PACE
The Celtics ripped off a 9-0 run early in the second half to take the lead, and they had their fast break to thank.
Crowder and the Celtics cranked up the pressure in the third quarter, which led to six fast-break points, including this nice finish by Smart:
But Dragic kept the Heat in it, pouring in 11 third-quarter points to make it a two-point game entering the fourth quarter.
CLOSING THE DOOR
The Celtics played their best basketball when it counted, going on an 11-2 run down the stretch to put the game out of reach for Miami.
Defense again was the catalyst, as Boston forced three Heat turnovers during that run.
THE WHITESIDE FACTOR
Nobody felt the impact of Whiteside more than Thomas.
The NBA blocks leader defended the rim with a purpose to the tune of eight blocks, making it very difficult for the 5-foot-9 Thomas to attack the paint with his usual tenacity.
Thomas had one of his worst games of the season offensively, going 4Â for 17Â from the field for just 12 points. He had one point on zero made field goals at halftime.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Smart hit Turner with a great pass during a second-quarter fast break, and Turner finished in style:
UP NEXT
The Celtics’ homestand continues Monday with a contest against the Utah Jazz. Tipoff at TD Garden is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
