BOSTON (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 27 points and hit two throws to give the Heat the lead after they came back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter and Miami beat Boston 111-105 on Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Bam Adebayo had 22 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists, and Caleb Martin came off the bench to score 25 points for eighth-seeded Miami, who won twice in Boston and secured a chance to complete the win at home.
Jayson Tatum had 34 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Boston. But the Celtics star went 0-3 with two turnovers in the fourth quarter as Boston gambled away an 89-77 lead en route to their second home loss in three nights. Jaylen Brown scored 16 points on 7-for-23 shooting; He went 1 for 5 with a turnover in the last quarter as Miami beat Boston 36-22.
The Celtics led by 11 points in the third quarter and made a lead of a dozen early in the fourth quarter. It was a 96-87 lead for Boston as Butler scored by facing Grant Williams before hitting the free throw to complete the three-point play.
Butler scoffed at William’s attempt to use words to get him off the field, and after Tatum missed from long range, Butler drove to the basket to set up a four-point game.
Miami was down 98-96 when Butler was called for an offensive foul and Marcus Smart kicked after landing a missed 3-pointer.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra challenged but lost.
He made a 17-foot throw for the 100-100 equalizer and then a quick fadeaway to put Miami ahead. After Max Strus took one of two free throws, Adebayo made it 105-100 with a putback dunk with less than a minute left in the game.
Boston used a 21-2 run to convert an eight-point deficit to an 11-point lead in the first quarter.
Brown was 1 for 7 in the first quarter as Tatum scored 12 points. Derrick White, who made a single 3-pointer, was the only player besides Tatum to score more than 2 points in the first quarter. … Adebayo and Butler each grabbed five rebounds in the first quarter. … Lowry and Grant Williams huddled a little after Williams fouled Adebayo with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter without repercussion.