The Celtics didn’t have two key contributors on Tuesday night for the third straight game but it did not prevent them from pulling off their best road win of the season. Gordon Hayward scored a game-high 29 points and added 9 rebounds while Jaylen Brown chipped in with 25 points, as the C’s led nearly start to finish in a 109-101 victory over Miami.
It was just the third home loss of the season for Miami, as the C’s pulled within 1/2 game of them in the standings with the victory. Without Tatum (groin) and Kanter (hip) out, Stevens stuck with his starters for big minutes all night, giving the game a playoff feel with an eight man rotation and several players playing over 36 minutes.
All five starters scored in double figures for Boston with Daniel Theis added a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds). The C’s backcourt struggled from the field (8-of-32) but Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart both made big plays down the stretch in the win as the C’s close out the road trip with a 2-1 record.
Goran Dragic had a team-high 23 points off the bench for the Heat. The C’s now return home to face off with the Warriors on Thursday night.
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Jaylen Brown
C: Daniel Theis
- Jayson Tatum is expected to miss his third straight game after being downloaded to doubtful with a strained groin. Enes Kanter and Rob Williams both remain out while Javonte Green is a new addition to the injury report with a sore knee that will cause him to sit out.
- Romeo Langford was called up from the Red Claws before the game to provide additional wing depth with Green/Tatum both out.
- The Celtics are 1-0 in the season series against Miami with a blowout win in Boston back in November despite playing without Hayward and Smart for that matchup.
- The Heat are the third-best home team in the NBA right now, going 21-2 so far at American Airlines Arena.