BOSTON — The Boston Celtics put on an offensive clinic in the first quarter and never looked back, taking a commanding 66-46 lead over the Miami Heat into halftime at TD Garden on Wednesday night.
The first quarter was a one-sided barrage. The Celtics erupted for 53 points, overwhelming Miami’s defense with a devastating 23-2 run that turned a close game into a rout. Boston shot a blistering percentage from the field, with Jaylen Brown leading the charge, scoring 20 of his game-high 22 points in the period. Sam Hauser provided a huge spark off the bench, draining five three-pointers for 17 first-half points.
Miami’s offense, conversely, stalled completely after a competitive start. The Heat scored just 13 points in the entire second quarter, managing only a 13-13 stalemate in the period. Bam Adebayo was a lone bright spot with 15 points and 6 rebounds, but Miami’s backcourt of Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins combined for just 12 points on inefficient shooting.
While Jayson Tatum had a relatively quiet scoring half with 11 points, he impacted the game everywhere else, tallying 8 rebounds and 3 assists. The Celtics' defense suffocated Miami’s role players, setting the stage for a critical second half where the Heat must find answers quickly to avoid a blowout loss.
