The Celtics looked every bit the best team in the NBA as they dominated their rivals in the Heat in a 143-110 victory Thursday in Miami. The C’s improved 35-10, which is 3.5 games better than the second-place Bucks. The Heat dropped their fifth straight game as they’re now 25-21.
While the Celtics started off slow, including a back-court violation on the first possession, they picked it up quickly. The Heat were also hot from beyond the arc, just not at the same level as the Celtics. By halftime, it was a 77-64 Celtics lead.
The Celtics host the Clippers at 7 p.m. Saturday for their next game. Here are four takeaways from Boston’s win over Miami:
Offensive explosion: The C’s looked like they wanted to make a statement against a reeling Heat squad. While Miami came in with the ninth-best defensive rating, the Celtics were dominant on offense. They scored 77 points in the first half, finishing with 143 for the game. That allowed the Celtics to build a comfortable lead in the second half. The C’s also had seven players in double-figure scoring. The Heat have impressed on the defense this year, but that didn’t stop the Celtics from filling up the bucket.
Missing piece: Part of why the Celtics dealt for Porzingis was to transform their offense as a post presence. Porzingis got off to a great start, pouring in 14 points in the first quarter. He looked exactly what the Celtics hoped when they traded for him, finishing with 19 points and four rebounds on 6-for-9 shooting in 21 minutes. But there were some worries coming from Thursday’s game as Porzingis had that left ankle sprain midway through the third quarter. The C’s will hope it’s not anything serious that will keep him out long-term.
Red-hot shooting: While the Celtics weren’t perfect Thursday, they filled it up from deep. They finished 22-for-40 (55%) on 3-pointers as the makes came easy all night. While the Heat had their hot stretches Thursday, they weren’t able to mount a comeback attempt because the C’s just kept raining 3s. The Heat finished 16-for-42 (38.1%) on 3s, in comparison. While the Celtics have found different ways to produce even when the jumpers aren’t going down, Thursday was proof that it’s extremely difficult to beat this squad when shots are falling.
Opportunity awaits: The Celtics went a perfect 3-0 on their three-game road trip, and now they return home for seven straight home games. The C’s have been the league’s best team in friendly confines, just recently dropping their first home game in the Nuggets loss last week. But with seven straight at the Garden, that allows the Celtics to continue picking up victories. They already have a comfortable lead atop the East standings, but they can add even more separation.
