The Celtics were on verge of a late-game collapse against a scrappy Heat in closing stages of the fourth quarter on Saturday night in Miami. Then Kyrie Irving stepped in. The All-Star point guard scored nine straight points for the Celtics in the final two minutes of the game, helping the visitors earn their fourth straight win with a 96-90 win at American Airlines Arena.
Irving scored a game-high 24 points, including nine crucial ones in the final frame. Jayson Tatum flirted with a career-high (20 points) on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, helping the Celtics overcome an ugly shooting night from the field (41 percent) and 3-point range (26 points).
Goran Dragic had a team-high 22 points for the hosts, while old friend Kelly Olynyk added 14 points off the bench.
The win puts the Celtics (4-2) just a half-game behind the Magic for the top spot in the Eastern Conference despite starting the year with a 0-2 mark.
GAME: No. 6 of 82
WHO: Celtics (3-2) vs. Heat (2-2)
WHEN: 8:00 EST
WHERE: American Airlines Arena
RADIO: 100.7 FM WZLX
TV: NBC Sports Boston
BOX SCORE: NBA.COM
Projected Starting Lineups:
Celtics
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Aron Baynes
Heat:
PG: Goran Dragic
SG: Dion Waiters
SF: Josh Richardson
PF: James Johnson
C: Jordan Mickey
THIRD QUARTER OBSERVATIONS
- Felt like Celtics really seized control of this game from the jump in this frame, building a double-digit lead in first eight minutes of the quarter.
- Six games into his career and still waiting for the first bad game for Jayson Tatum. He was stellar tonight in the third quarter, pushing the Celtics lead up with his aggressiveness from inside and out. 16 points through three quarters for Boston's third option is the type of production Brad Stevens will take every night.
- The C's defense continues to carry this team under the radar every night right now. Heat shot just 41 percent through three frames and 29 percent from 3-point range. C's continue to be one of the peskiest teams in the league defending from downtown.
- Celtics jumped out to an 11-0 run early in the quarter, fueled mostly by the play of Marcus Smart. He grabbed an errant pass in the open court and produced a layup to start things off. He also buried back-to-back 3-point attempts, some of which may cause Brad Stevens to pull his hair out since they came so early in the shot clock. Smart's going to shoot when he's open and C's are going to benefit when he gets hot.
- Very solid minutes from Daniel Theis on both ends for what feels like the third straight game. The guy knows what he can do on the court and does it well. He's opportunistic with his offense when he finds holes and that's a perfect role guy for this team off the bench.
- Second straight game the bench unit plus a starter added to a Celtics lead in big minutes. That's a huge encouraging shift from last year, particularly because that group isn't at full strength yet with Marcus Morris out.
- Starters give back most of the lead as Heat jump out to 9-0 run in the final two minutes of the quarter, largely aided by an Al Horford flagrant foul that produced a four-point possession for the Heat.
- Ugly shooting start for Kyrie Irving (1-of-6) against a feisty Heat defense that makes you work for everything.
- Two early fouls for Jaylen Brown earned him a seat on the bench after just four minutes. Big minutes for Semi Ojeleye in his absence against a Heat lineup chalk full of wings
- Heat guards starting to wreak some havoc against C's defense, particularly late in the frame. Combination of Tyler Johnson and Goran Dragic scored nine points and dished out three assists.
- Botched 2-for-1 late by Marcus Smart cost the Celtics points as Heat closed out quarter on a 7-2 run.
- Kelly Olynyk up to his old tricks early punishing the C's from the outside (5 points).
- Another hot start for Jayson Tatum (7 points on 3-of-3 shooting). He has been one of the most consistent Celtics during these first two weeks.
- No Hassan Whiteside for the Heat means Miami could go back to former Celtic Jordan Mickey for the starting spot at center. He's started a couple games for the Heat already this year after getting waived by the Celtics this summer.
- First chance for C's fans to get a closer look at big man Kelly Olynyk since he signed a four-year deal in South Beach this summer. Brad Stevens has been watching him and other Celtics closely though throughout the past few weeks. "I've watched all of those guys play on the different teams they're on now, with Kelly being here and Avery in Detroit, obviously Jae in Cleveland, etcetera, Jordan playing here the first couple of games with Miami," Stevens told reporters in Miami. "I really root for everybody."
- With Olynyk coming off the bench for Miami, the expectation is that Baynes will be re-inserted into the starting five if Mickey draws the start. If the Heat go smaller, Stevens could opt to go with Smart at the wing and push Horford to center. Either way, look for both teams to play plenty of small-ball this evening.