“That’s going to be different every night”. And now the Heat seemingly are richer for it going forward. Bosh scored 14 points in the second quarter, 16 in the half, and Wade not only added nine first-half points, but put on a vintage move, connecting on a step-back jumper after a fake sent Langston Galloway rolling to the ground. Monta Ellis had 14 points, and George Hill finished with 10 assists (see full recap).
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Hassan Whiteside is bigger than any bigman on the Celtics roster, and the opportunity is there for him to dominate.
“He really embraced it and saw that the coaching staff and system is an absolute, immediate extension of what we do”, Spoelstra said. However, that second half fury wasn’t there to start the game.
Goran Dragic went just 1-of-4 from the foul line and missed all three of his attempts from downtown. When the Heat crept close, he hit threes, he hit midrange jumpers, he hit a 28-footer that pushed a one-point lead out to four.
Heat reserve guard Tyler Johnson was the first-half shooting star, making all four of his shots, including two 3-pointers, for 10 points.
WHINE OF THE NIGHT: Justise Winslow.
Midway through the third quarter, a few live-ball turnovers gave the Heat a bit of rhythm, and they chopped away at a 14-point deficit.
Miami lost for the third time in its first 11 home games of the season….
The Celtics are surrendering an average of 114.0 points and 51.6 percent shooting – 40.6 from long range – over the last three games, and they’re 0-7 overall when opponents reach the century mark. After Manu Ginobili missed for San Antonio, Butler hit two free throws with 10.6 seconds left.
“He’s just been pretty consistent”, Celtics coach Brad Stevens said of Bradley.
The Celtics had one of their strongest offensive games of the season and they sealed the deal with the defense we have come to expect. “It settled us down when things weren’t going our way, and this place was rocking”. But too many listless stretches doomed the Heat to a 105-95 loss.
NY averages 96.2 possessions per game, scoring 1.011 points on each possession.
“I think it deflates the other team”, Evan Turner said of Bradley’s big shots, “because [the Heat] keep trying to make runs and I think it deflated the crowd as well”. “It deflated the crowd as well”. It’s still early. I just love his approach. Deng’s absence may have revealed that the Heat could use another versatile wing player, especially when Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem don’t get playing time. Subbing for Isaiah Thomas, he went for six points, one assist and a steal in the last six minutes.
-Luol Deng (hamstring) and Amar’e Stoudemire (illness) are doubtful for the Heat and Marcus Smart (leg) is out for the Celtics.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Kevin Durant had 34 points and 13 rebounds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Detroit Pistons 103-87 Friday night for their fourth straight win.
