Final: Heat 117, Celtics 114 (OT) -- C's blow 14-point fourth quarter lead on way to Game 1 loss

The Celtics led by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter and were up by five in the final minute of regulation but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Heat in a 117-114 overtime loss on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Jimmy Butler hit the game-winning bucket in the final minute of overtime over Jayson Tatum with 12 seconds remaining. Tatum tried to answer on the other end but Bam Adebayo blocked him at the rim to take away Boston’s best chance at the tie. Tatum eventual missed a desperation heave at the buzzer as well after Heat free throws.

Jayson Tatum posted his fifth consecutive double-double with 30 points and 16 rebounds but missed several key shots during crunch time.  Marcus Smart added six made 3s, to help carry Boston’s offense, the third game this postseason in which he’s reached that mark but was not involved much down the stretch as Boston’s offensive lacked ball movement. Kemba Walker

• Easily the best third quarter of the postseason for the Celtics, going on a 27-10 run against the Heat over the final eight minutes of the frame.


• Brad Wanamaker was on the floor for all nine minutes of the run, fueling the C's with some timely shot creation and solid defense.


• Jayson Tatum carried the offense later in the frame along with a number of C's reserves, hitting shots all over the floor against a Miami defense that didn't have any answers for him.


• C's had their way with former Celtic Kelly Olynyk in the period as well, targeting him on several occasions on the defensive end.

• 9-2 run to start the quarter for Miami fueled by Herro and Dragic


• Celtics started the game 10 for 15  in the first quarter but went on to miss 15 of their next 22 shots thanks to a zone from the Heat.


• Kemba Walker struggled with his shot for the third straight game, going 1-of-7 in the first half.


• Jaylen Brown started out cold as well but made two 3s in the final two minutes of the half.


• Meanwhile, the Heat’s offense erupted in the second quarter, going 13-of-17 at one point on their way to 37 points in the frame to erase a 13-point C’s lead.


• Goran Dragic has been having his way with the C’s so far with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting while the Heat have been lights out from 3, knocking down 52 percent of their attempts.

—C’s open the game on a 12-3 run while shooting 5-of-7 from the field.

—Marcus Smart punishing the Heat early with a couple of 3s and by drawing a couple of fouls on Duncan Robinson. He hit double figures in scoring in just 9 minutes.

--Daniel Theis going minute for minute with Olynyk early once he’s subbed into the game. Rob Williams playing ahead of Enes Kanter again.

--Miami brings zone out with 3 minutes left in first quarter, which helps slow down the C’s offense with Tatum on the bench after the C's got lead up to 13. Marcus Smart got a little too shot happy against it.

—Semi Ojeleye first forward sub off the bench for Boston with Brad Stevens clearly putting a priority on the defensive end early.

—Slow start for Jaylen Brown with 1-of-5 shooting from the field.

—Jayson Tatum red-hot early on with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.