Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics with 33 points as they cruised past the Miami Heat 103-85 on Monday night. Boston improved to 38-16, while Miami dropped below .500 at 25-26.
Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points, while Al Horford contributed 16 as the Celtics dominated the game from beyond the arc. Boston attempted 53 three-pointers and only 32 two-point shots, emphasizing their perimeter-heavy attack.
Miami struggled offensively, shooting just 33.7% from the field. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 22 points and 12 rebounds, but his effort wasn’t enough to keep the game competitive.
Andrew Wiggins made his Heat debut but managed only 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting. Miami’s newest acquisitions—Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, and Kyle Anderson—combined to shoot 5-for-25 from the field.
Boston took control in the second quarter, outscoring Miami 34-19 to build a double-digit lead by halftime. The Celtics extended the advantage with a 36-point third quarter, putting the game out of reach.
Derrick White had 13 points and seven assists for Boston, while Sam Hauser added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from deep. The Celtics’ ball movement and spacing gave Miami trouble throughout the game.
Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday missed the game due to injuries, but Boston’s depth allowed them to maintain their dominance. Payton Pritchard came off the bench with 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Tatum’s efficiency was key, as he shot 13-for-26 from the field, including four three-pointers. His ability to score at all three levels allowed Boston to stretch Miami’s defense.
Porzingis added nine rebounds to his 17-point effort, while Horford grabbed 10 boards to go with his 16 points. Boston won the rebounding battle 52-51, limiting Miami’s second-chance opportunities.
The Heat’s offensive struggles continued from beyond the arc, where they shot just 24.4% on 11-for-45 shooting. Their inability to connect from deep prevented them from cutting into Boston’s lead.
Miami played without Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr., both sidelined due to illness. Their absence left the team without two key scoring options.
Alec Burks was one of the few bright spots for Miami, scoring 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting. However, he didn’t get enough support from the rest of the roster.
The Celtics’ defense played a major role in Miami’s offensive struggles, forcing tough shots and limiting clean looks. Boston’s ability to contest shots without fouling kept Miami from getting to the free-throw line consistently.
