A third-quarter blitz from the Miami Heat left home fans booing their own team at TD Garden in Boston, as the number two seed Celtics fell to a shock 123-116 loss in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jimmy Butler delivered an all-around masterclass, racking up a new playoff career-high six steals in addition to his 35 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Two late steals and some clutch buckets in the final minutes from Butler guided the Heat to the boilover on the road, after a poor first half.
Jayson Tatum had 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting to go with seven rebounds and an assist, but he was poor in the second half and finished with four turnovers.
Butler said: “You’ve got to guard him with all five bodies on the floor, I think we did an excellent job of that.”
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