Boston Celtics thrash Miami to turn NBA playoffs series on its head

After being thrashed in game one of their NBA playoff series, the Celtics turned the tables on the Miami Heat in another one-sided contest.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 19: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 19, 2022 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Jayson Tatum scored 27 points as the Boston Celtics roared back to level the NBA Eastern Conference finals series with a 127-102 thrashing of the Miami Heat in game two on Friday (AEST).

Bolstered by the return of Marcus Smart and Al Horford, who both missed the 118-107 game one drubbing, Boston were a team transformed as they squared the best-of-seven series 1-1.

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Boston made only 11-of-34 from three-point range in the lopsided opener, when Miami out-hustled them to claim a decisive victory.

But the Celtics shrugged off that misfiring performance in emphatic fashion, draining 20-of-40 from beyond the arc to overwhelm Miami.

Tatum led the scorers but there were huge contributions throughout the Celtics line-up.

Smart finished with 24 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, while Jaylen Brown also posted 24 points, including 12 from three-point range.

Grant Williams added 19 from the bench, while Horford and Payton Pritchard had 10 points each.

Jimmy Butler led the Miami scoring with 29 points but only three other Heat players made double figures.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka said the return of Smart and Horford had been decisive.

“It was great to have them back, they’re a calming presence,” he said.

“I don’t think we played as poorly as the last game suggested. We won three quarters of that game but we saw a lot of positives and areas that we could attack.” Smart admitted he had found it hard to sit out game one with a foot injury.

“I felt bad that I couldn’t be out there with my teammates going to battle with them,” Smart said.

“We’re playing a really good Miami team and it’s a blessing to be on the same court going to war. It was tough having to watch it.”

Marcus Smart starred on his return to the Celtics line-up. Photo: Eric Espada/Getty Images/AFP

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said his team had expected a Boston backlash.

“I’m sure they weren’t happy about us putting up 118 against them in game one,” he said.

“When you get to this stage of the conference finals, you just have very good teams, teams without many weaknesses.

“It’s great competition. But this only counts as one game. We don’t like it. We just have to figure some things out.”

Butler said he hoped the defeat would motivate Miami for game three.

“They tried to embarrass us, and they did embarrass us,” Butler said.

A wild first quarter saw Miami pick up where they left off in game one, with Max Strus hitting back-to-back three-pointers to leave the Heat ahead by 10 points at 18-8.

But Boston produced a scintillating 17-0 run to turn the quarter on its head, with their long-range shooting vastly improved.

Brown knocked down a trio of three-pointers in the first period to leave the Celtics up by 35-24 heading into the second quarter.

This game is ... OVER. If the Celtics keep shooting like this, they will win the NBA championship.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 20, 2022

Celts were down 18-10 and went on a 60-27 run. That’s as good as they’ve played in 2022 (and they’ve had some good halves).

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 20, 2022

The Celtics’ shooting clinic continued in the second quarter, with Pritchard nailing a 26-foot three-pointer to put Boston 19 points clear at 47-28 midway through the period.

A Tatum three-pointer and two free throws soon afterwards left Boston 27 points clear at 64-37 and shortly afterwards the Celtics had built a 29-point lead when Grant Williams’ driving layup made it 68-39.

Smart put the seal on a devastating first-half display with a pull-up jump shot to make it 70-45 at halftime.

Miami rallied late in the third quarter and cut the Boston lead to 17 points at one stage, but the Celtics regrouped and again pulled away.

A three-pointer from Tatum took them 25 points clear in the closing seconds of the third quarter at 94-69, a lead which they held going into the final quarter.

Smart made it a 30-point lead early in the fourth, bamboozling the Miami defence to drain a superb step back three-pointer from 26 feet as Boston closed out a brutal victory.

Originally published as Boston Celtics thrash Miami to turn NBA playoffs series on its head