#3 Celtics vs #5 Heat: Eastern Conference Finals Preview
By Keith P Smith | Sep 14, 2020
https://www.celticsblog.com/2020/9/14/21436690/3-boston-celtics-vs-5-miami-heat-eastern-conference-finals-preview
During the regular season the teams met three times, with Boston winning two of three matchups:
· Boston 112 – Miami 93
· Boston 109 – Miami 101
· Miami 112 – Boston 106
The first game came in early-December. Boston used a huge second quarter and 18 Miami turnovers to win in a blowout. The Celtics were without Gordon Hayward, but Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker combined for 78 points in the victory. Jimmy Butler led the way for the Heat with 37 points.
The second matchup was in late-January. The Celtics got 29 points from Gordon Hayward, 25 points from Jaylen Brown (Boston was without Jayson Tatum) and used stifling defense to hold the Heat to 37% shooting overall and 9-of-37 from behind the arc. Free throws kept Miami in the game, as Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic combined to go 20-of-23 at the charity stripe.
The final contest took place in the bubble. The Heat were without Jimmy Butler, but never trailed in beating the Celtics. Five Miami players were in double-figures in points, led by 62 combined points from Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic. The Heat hit 15 three-pointers, and took advantage of 16 Celtics turnovers.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Previous Game Highlights
___________________________________________________________________________________
Playoffs VC Count, 2019-20
___________________________________________________________________________________
Victory Cigar
(3) Marcus Smart
(2) Jayson Tatum
(2) Kemba Walker
(1) Jaylen Brown
Ties go to the Team.
___________________________________________________________________________________
(3) Jayson Tatum
(2) Jaylen Brown
(1) Marcus Smart
(1) Kemba Walker
(1) Daniel Theis
___________________________________________________________________________________