BSJ Game Report: Celtics 111, Heat 104 - Jaylen Brown shines as C's hold on in Miami

Everything you need to know about the Celtics' 111-104 win over the Miami Heat with BSJ insight and analysis.

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics started each half slow, but then turned it on late in the first and third quarters to get themselves leads. They withstood Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro runs thanks in large part to Jaylen Brown’s steadily great performance, and Jayson Tatum carrying them in the third. 

Box Score

HEADLINES

Lessons to be learned: The ball security was lacking and in a lot of ways, this game resembled the Eastern Conference Finals for stretches where the C’s committed too many fouls, turned the ball over for extended stretches, and let the Heat back into the game when it looked like they were out for the count. 

Depth on display: Brown picked up his fifth foul late in the game and never came back in. Part of that was preservation, and part of that was not getting the chance to get him back into the game. But the Celtics were able to lean on Malcolm Brogdon in that time and hold off the Heat. Joe Mazzulla probably should have gotten Brown back in at some point, but that decision aside, having Brogdon in that situation allowed the Celtics get through.

More hot shooting: The Celtics hit more than half their shots again, shooting 51.9% overall and 42.4% from 3. 

“I think our spacing, especially in the first six seconds of the shot clock, I think we're fighting to get great shots the majority of the time,” Mazzulla explained about the team’s hot shooting. “Our guys are committed to playing together and playing the right way and trusting the fact that it works out for everybody when we do that.”

TURNING POINT 

Tatum scored six straight points after Miami took a third-quarter lead, starting a 20-6 run over the final 5:12. The Celtics went from a slow start in the second half and giving up the lead for the first time to a 12-point lead heading into the fourth. That gave them the pad they needed to hold Miami off in the fourth. 

FIVE UP

Jaylen Brown: I’ll look past the couple of minutes where Brown (and everyone else) just played with their heads up their … well, you know … to give Miami life. Before that, he was a monster, playing wonderfully on both ends of the floor. Finished with 28 points on 12-18 shooting (2-3 3pt), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. 

Jayson Tatum: He didn’t shoot that well, but he came through with some key stretches on his way to a 29-point night. He also had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. He’s also showing his value on the defensive end so far, which is important as they wait for Robert Williams to return.

Grant Williams: Two huge 3-pointers from him, both at the end of the third to push the lead back into double digits. He also had a big putback in the fourth to help keep the lead in double digits. He also had 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 assists. 

Malcolm Brogdon: He was off in this game, shooting just 2-9 and finishing with 7 points, but his 3 offensive rebounds were huge in that 20-6 run. All of them were off his own misses, so he stuck with the play. He put back one of them, and another turned into one of Williams’ 3-pointers. Also, this is what his attacking can do: 

That's the Williams tip in, made possible by Brogdon pulling two guys out of position with his drive. That's the kind of gravity that helps make plays for others without counting for anything in the box score. His stats were nothing special, but his presence was important. 

Noah Vonleh: Looks like I was wrong about this one. Vonleh certainly isn’t lighting the world on fire, but he’s doing what’s needed. And every once in a while, he’s going to pull off a move like this: 

He still needs to set cleaner screens. He can’t keep getting called for offensive fouls at the rate he has been. 

TWO DOWN

Marcus Smart: I thought he was good early, but he erased most of that in the second half with some poor passing decisions that led to five turnovers, three of which were live-ball. He was also 0-4 from 3. 

Joe Mazzulla: The Celtics held on to win this game down the stretch, but I don't think it was Mazzulla's coaching that did it. I think his timeout use was questionable and I still think he should have found a way to get Brown back in the game. Just because things worked out, it doesn't mean those were good decisions. This isn't to say Mazzulla coached poorly in the game, I just think those are decisions he'll need to learn from down the line. 

TOP PLAYS

THREE TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Jaylen Brown, man on a mission

He had a stretch in the first quarter that stood out to me as a great sign of where his head is at. 

He had a drive against Kyle Lowry where he properly recognized that Lowry was going to attempt to take a charge, so he adjusted and avoided the contact so it was a no-call. 

Then later, he defended Lowry straight up and didn’t fall for any of the junky fakes Lowry was throwing his way, straight-up blocking his shot attempt. 

Jaylen has been known for being too focused on the rim and plowing through people on drives AND for biting on upfakes. Not falling for those things is a nice sign of how far he’s come and how focused he is. 

Brown came into this season on a mission, playing in the preseason like the games meant something. Now he’s carrying that into the regular season. He was the best player on the floor in this game. 

- Early wins against fellow contenders are important

Being 2-0 doesn’t mean much in an 82-game season other than you get to say something like “the undefeated Boston Celtics” blah, blah, blah. But wins over Philly and Miami are always meaningful because the standings will almost certainly be super tight in March and April. 

Picking up these tiebreaker wins now is like a squirrel burying nuts in the fall. Those will come in real handy when the spring rolls around. 

- Don’t blow it in Orlando

The East is tough and I think Orlando is a talented young team. They don’t know how to win yet, but they know how to play basketball. The Celtics can’t relax here. They have a real chance to go 4-0 to start the season, but only if they don’t let down against the Magic.