Final: Celtics 112, Heat 93 -- C's run away with win in second half

Jaylen Brown got a big commitment from the Celtics before the season started and he’s been living up to it with his play in the past few weeks. His effort was no better than Wednesday night as he posted a season-high 31 points, helping the C’s rally from an 11-point first half deficit with a 42-15 run in the middle quarters on the way to a 112-93 Boston win. Kemba Walker added 28 points for the shorthanded C’s who played without Marcus Smart (illness) in the victory.

Boston only shot 43 percent on the night but made a living at the free throw line, doubling up the Heat 32-16 in the win. Semi Ojeleye also proved to be crucial in the middle two quarters, posting a +21 with 5 points and 7 rebounds as he stabilized the C’s defense and helped Boston outscore Miami 62-41 in the middle two frames.

The C’s improve to 8-0 at home with the win and 15-5 overall on the year. They get another tough test on Friday night in a home date with the Nuggets.

• Marcus Smart is sidelined due to illness but the head coach does not expect that or his sore oblique to keep him out for long. "They didn’t think it was that bad as far as a long-term thing," Stevens said. "It was more of the combination of the soreness, but the sickness is what knocked him out tonight. He was going to be doubtful with the oblique, but the sickness is what knocked him out. Hopefully he gets well soon. He’s been in contact with our docs, and then they’ll check the oblique when he gets back in the practice facility, hopefully tomorrow."


• The Heat will be without Goran Dragic (sore hamstring) and head coach Erik Spoelstra who is back in Miami for the birth of his second child. Former Massachusetts resident Dan Craig will coach in his place.


• The Celtics are undefeated at home (7-0) this season.


• Brad Stevens on New England native Duncan Robinson, who has gone from an undrafted rookie to a starter over two seasons in Miami: "I just think that he’s always been a ridiculously elite shooter. I remember when he came in for his draft workout, I was kind of taken aback by how big he is. He’s used that length effectively on the defensive end of the floor. He plays with … he’s smart, he covers the right amount of space, he takes away space without fouling. And then on the other end, he’s just a threat. He’s an all-time -- all the time, you have to be aware of him. That’s the issue with great shooters on the floor. Some teams you look at and you say, ‘Okay, it’s early in the year, and maybe their 3-point numbers will even out.’ I just think these guys are going to be one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the league all year. Any time you have the playmakers that you have with Nunn and Butler and those guys and then you add the elite, elite shooters with Robinson, Herro, and the bigs that can shoot too, that just opens up everything."