Just like Game 1, the Boston Celtics seemed to take control of it. But this time, they extended their lead to 17 points in the second quarter, and got whatever they wanted offensively. And this time, the turnaround was faster and more extreme: the Miami Heat led 20-4 in the third quarter and advanced seven points in the final.
And just as in Game 1, Miami beat the # 3-ranked Celtics, completely knocking them out of tempo with a combination of their 2-3 zone and switch. Heat mixed with some pressure on the field as well, and made Boston look like a completely different team than it was in the beginning.
To his credit, the Celtics responded on both sides after their cold stretch. Miami wasted 10 of its first 12 shots in the final frame, and Boston went round 15-2. Nevertheless, the Heat persevered again, knocking out a 106-101 win and advancing 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to goalkeeper Goran Dragic’s tournaments late in the match.
Less than two minutes before the end of the match, the Celtics made a near-perfect defensive possession until 3 Dragic fired out of range dribbling on top player Daniel Thees to give the Heat the 100-95 lead. Dragic, who helped Hit stay afloat at the opening of the series, collided with another crystal over Theis in the next possession. He finished with 25 points on 10 shots to 19, in addition to five assists.
Boston’s Jaylene Brown bumped into a pair of 3s clutch but missed one in the corner that was to tie her 15 seconds before the match. The third game on Saturday.
