Final: Celtics 143, Heat 110 - Seven Celtics in double figures as C's dominate second half

BOSTON CELTICS at MIAMI HEAT

7:30 p.m. - TNT

Line: Boston -8.5

INJURIES

Boston: None

Miami: Jaime Jaquez, Jr. (OUT, groin), Kevin Love (QUESTIONABLE, illness), Dru Smith (OUT, knee)

NOTES

- Miami is on a back-to-back. They lost to Memphis, their fourth loss in a row, last night at home. 

- Terry Rozier made his Heat debut last night, scoring nine points on 3-for-11 shooting

- This is the final game of Boston's week-long, three-game road trip. They return home after this game for a seven-game homestand starting with the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Take their first punch: Losing to a very shorthanded Memphis team before facing the hated Celtics feels very much like Miami fell into a trap game last night. That means they're going to be pissed tonight. Not only that, it’s a national TV game, and Miami is going to want to prove to the world that their struggles aren’t part of some issue as much as they are part of the preservation of legs. 

“It's just one of these periods of time in an NBA season that's funky,” Erik Spoelstra said after the game. “I can't even explain it. ... There were a lot of uncharacteristic plays offensively.”

Prepare for Miami to play this like a playoff game. Take their first punch, settle down, and play the long game in return. Don’t get caught up in answers. Be methodical. 

2. Dynamic Duo: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had excellent games in Dallas, playing a dynamic brand of basketball that saw them attack mismatches without overdoing it, move the ball, and defend. Miami has historically taken that kind of play away from them, drawing them deep into the teeth of a waiting trap. 

Tatum and Brown need to keep the same focus they’ve had recently and keep the Heat defense moving to open up cracks for someone to attack. 

3. Use Kristaps Porzingis effectively: He’s the matchup nightmare. He’s too big for Bam Adebayo, so use him to pull Bam out to the perimeter and shoot over the top of him. If Miami goes zone, I can see Porzingis in the middle to hit easy jumpers, or I can see him on the baseline for lobs with someone like Brown or Jrue Holiday in the middle of the zone. 

Either way, it’s matchups like this where Porzingis can shine the brightest. Miami is the team that triggered those offseason moves, and Porzingis was Boston’s prized move. The Heat had to be in Brad Stevens' mind when he pulled the trigger, so now let’s see it in action.

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.