In a dramatic late-season showdown, the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics 111-105 to seize a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Miami pushed ahead by twelve points and never looked back, led by Jimmy Butler as the Heat closed the game with a confident defensive stand and timely baskets, edging toward a spot in the Finals as the eighth seed in league history to reach this stage.
The Heat have become a known factor in this postseason run. They earned their playoff berth through the play-in but quickly established themselves as a genuine threat as the stakes rose. Butler led the way with a 27-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist performance, answering the Celtics’ challenges and muting the impact of Grant Williams, who delivered a spirited fourth-quarter push for Boston.
The series now shifts to Miami for the next two games, where the Heat have shown they perform best at home. Their run through the play-in included eliminating top regular-season teams, and the momentum continues to favor the hosts as they chase a return to the Finals.
Butler anchors a balanced Miami attack that features Bam Adebayo posting a near triple-double with 22 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Gabe Vincent added 25 points of his own. With Tyler Herro unavailable, Erik Spoelstra steered the team through difficult moments, highlighting the Celtics’ vulnerabilities in high-pressure playoff moments.
Boston started strong but could not sustain its advantage. After a first-quarter surge that briefly put them ahead, Jayson Tatum finished with a game-high 34 points and 13 rebounds but shot only 3 free throws in the decisive moments. Jaylen Brown contributed 16 points, yet Boston could not provide enough help to retain control in the final stretch.
Historically, a team holding a 2-0 series lead in the playoffs has a strong track record, with only a small number of teams failing to close out the series in the best-of-seven format. The numbers frame the contest as a critical turning point as the Heat aim to push the series toward a favorable finish.
usual ups and downs
The Heat opened with confidence, using Butler and Adebayo to dominate the paint and push ahead early. The team moved the ball efficiently, while their defense kept Boston in check for extended stretches. In the first quarter, Tatum sparked a quick counterattack that produced a 11-2 run, allowing Boston to reclaim momentum after an initial Miami push. The Celtics finished the period up 25-24, signaling a tense battle ahead.
Boston carried that energy into the second period with two early three-pointers from Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon. A 19-2 burst, sparked by that trio and a finish from Tatum, pushed Boston ahead 33-24 and prompted a timeout from Spoelstra. The Celtics’ 24-4 surge in the period underscored their offensive power, but Miami steadied the ship with a 19-2 run led by Caleb Martin, who chipped in eight points and ignited a decisive comeback. Butler contributed on defense and offense, closing the half with a clutch shot and Miami trailing 54-50 at halftime.
Tatum returned from the locker room determined to imprint his mark, scoring 15 points in the third quarter as Boston stretched the lead to 83-75. Martin again provided stability for the Heat, while Boston rode an aggressive 10-0 stretch that featured Smart and Brogdon making key plays. Winding into the fourth, Boston led by 8 points, but Miami countered with a string of baskets and defensive stops that narrowed the gap to a single possession late in the frame.
Robert Williams started the fourth with a strong push for Boston, expanding the lead to 12 points. Yet Duncan Robinson nailed two consecutive threes to keep Miami within reach, and Butler steadied the team from the bench as the rally began to take shape.
Butler finished Celtics
After a brief flare between Williams and Butler, Boston saw its lead dwindle as Miami executed a 9-2 run that turned a nine-point deficit into a narrow advantage. The decisive moment arrived with an 18-4 stretch that broke the game open in Miami’s favor and left Boston searching for answers as Tatum went cold in the fourth. By the final moments, the Heat had seized control, and Boston could not recover enough to reclaim the margin.
With this win, the Heat sit just two victories away from a spot in their second NBA Finals in three years, adding another chapter to a campaign that has defied preseason expectations while showcasing resilience and depth against a seasoned Celtics squad.