MIAMI — For the first 1:59 of Wednesday night's game, neither the Boston Celtics nor the Heat missed a shot. They made seven straight baskets. Jaylen Brown went ballistic for Boston, and Bam Adebayo took on that role for Miami.
By the 4:44 mark, the Heat held a one-point lead, but both sides had already put up monster scoring numbers. A pair of Kel'el Ware free throws made the score 30-29.
From that point on, it was all Boston.
In those final few minutes of the first quarter, the Celtics outscored the Heat 24-3. Boston's 53 first-quarter points were the most scored in a single quarter since 1970.
Brown finished the quarter with 20 points, two rebounds, and one assist on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 shooting from deep. Yet somehow, he wasn't the clear-cut offensive leader for Boston.
Sam Hauser threw his hat in the ring for that title in the first quarter. He scored 17 points and didn't miss a shot. Hauser shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor and 5-of-5 from beyond the arc.
As the second quarter got underway, the Heat kept things close, avoiding an onslaught like the one that occurred in the first.
Jayson Tatum heated up in the second, scoring 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, but Miami also found chances to get out and run in transition. A few empty possessions and live-ball turnovers gave Miami some life. They scored 11 fast-break points on 4-of-5 shooting.
Still, Miami was unable to find a consistent offensive rhythm (at least, after its red-hot start). Boston maintained its lead, pouring in a whopping 80 first-half points to Miami's 57.
And despite Brown, Hauser, and Tatum's offensive showings, the best sequence of the first half came from Derrick White.
As the game clock was ticking down in the second quarter, White threw a lob to Brown in transition. Miami quickly grabbed the ball out of the basket and threw it to Pelle Larsson, who was already dashing down the court.
White sprinted from one end of the court to the other to contest Larsson's shot, preventing an easy layup. It was the ultimate hustle play.
As the third quarter got underway, the Heat found a small window for a comeback. They began the quarter shooting 5-of-6 from three-point land, cutting into Boston's monstrous lead.
But even then, by the 4:55 mark, the Celtics had regained control. And Brown didn't slow down at all.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. did his best to keep Miami afloat in the final few minutes of the third. And he got some support from Ware and Davion Mitchell, too.
The long ball gave Miami life. The Heat finished the third quarter with 45 points, including 25 in the final 4:19. They entered the fourth within striking distance and with the entire Kaseya Center behind them.
Tyler Herro nailed a transition three at the 10:41 mark in the fourth to bring Miami within nine points, but the Celtics immediately responded with a 7-0 run to extend their lead back up to 16.
Neemias Queta finished the game with a double-double, but the numbers don't fully equate to how impactful he was, especially in the fourth quarter. His presence around the rim and on the glass helped Boston keep the game in control.
As the game wound down, the Celtics maintained their lead. Miami caused a scare, but Boston's early fourth-quarter response kept it brief. The Celtics walked out of the Kaseya Center with a massive victory.
Big winner: This is exactly why the Celtics continue to trust Hauser. And it's why he's so valuable in their starting group.
Boston doesn't pay him to make every three he ever takes. As is the case with every three-point specialist, there are inevitably going to be games in which he struggles.
The Celtics pay him because for every one of those games, there is generally one of the games they got from him on Wednesday night.
Hauser's three-point dominance was a direct result of Miami's desire to pressure Tatum and Brown. The Heat didn't want to give those two space to work, so Hauser found space off the ball and nailed open three after open three.
As the game went on, Miami keyed in on his shooting, so he found a new way to score. He pump-faked at the three-point line, drove closeouts, and nailed mid-range shots.
At every point in the game, Hauser found a way to lift up Boston's offense. (And he played well on the defensive end, too.)
Ouch, tough one: The end of the third quarter was brutal.
The Celtics' offense wilted, and their inability to guard the three-point line in transition was even more costly. Miami nailed a flurry of thees, headlined by Jaquez, Mitchell, and Ware.
A game that, at one point, looked like a sure-fire blowout quickly turned into a single-digit affair. Boston responded well in the fourth, but their third-quarter sluggishness nearly cost them.
The big picture: Take this game as a reminder of what the Celtics' offense can be at its best.
Tatum and Brown sucked in Miami's defense, kicked out to shooters, and the Heat felt the full effect of what a Boston three-point party can look like. But again, it all started with the stars.
Having two guys - even three or four, at times - who can bend a defense is a massive advantage for the Celtics. And when the role players are making shots, Boston's great offense can turn into an unstoppable one.