Neemias Queta said Boston’s fast start against Miami set the tone for a night in which the Celtics opened with 53 first-quarter points and beat the Heat 147-129 on Wednesday at Kaseya Center. “We were getting good looks, you know,” Queta said. “Pressure knocking those down and set the tone for the rest of the game.”
The Celtics’ big man said Miami’s early push did not last because Boston adjusted its coverage and limited the Heat’s best transition chances. “They started off pretty well,” Queta said. “I think we kind of keyed in on that and then we figured out how to slow them down a little bit in transition.”
Queta said the game turned on effort plays and physicality, especially against a Heat team that tied a franchise record with 24 made three-pointers. “Just trying to make it hard as hard as possible,” he said. “It was just about set of physicality and trying to help the team.”
Miami’s Bam Adebayo finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds, but Queta said Boston had to stay disciplined around the rim and on the glass. “Contested rebounds are harder to get,” he said. “You really got to be on your own physicality, and just when you go get it, just be stronger to get out.”
Queta also pointed to the Celtics’ shooting as the reason his work inside became more effective later in the game. “Our ability to shoot and knock down shots just open up the pain for me,” he said. “You get pocket passes, and from that point on it’s just me and it’s trusting my skill set and my touch.”
He finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and said the performance reflected how Boston has grown through the season. “As the year goes by, you start figuring out how to get your spots, how to figure out your teammates, how to play with each other,” Queta said. “The year has been great for me, but I still got a lot more to do.”
Queta said the bench’s reaction to his offensive rebound and putback sequence showed how tightly the group is connected. “It’s amazing,” he said. “These guys really push me to the limit, trying to get the best version of me every day.”
He added that the support from teammates and staff makes the work worth it. “We’ve been through the trenches together and we’ve been working over the years,” Queta said. “We just best each other.”
Boston improved to 51-25 and remains second in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics return to action Friday in Milwaukee.
