Irving leads Celtics to 96-90 win over Heat
The Sports Xchange
Oct 28, 2017
MIAMI -- Kyrie Irving scored 24 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 96-90 victory over the Miami Heat on Saturday night.
Irving scored five consecutive points in the final two minutes as the Celtics (4-2) held off a late Miami rally for their fourth consecutive victory and eighth straight against the Heat. Miami has not defeated Boston since March 25, 2015.
The Heat rallied from an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter and got within 88-86 on Goran Dragic's layup with 1:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. Irving responded with a short jumper and a 3-pointer that gave the Celtics 93-86 lead with 57 seconds left.
Jayson Tatum scored 20 points as the rookie from Duke went 6 of 9 from the field. Marcus Smart finished with 16 points and Al Horford was Boston's fourth double figures scorer with 12 points.
Dragic scored 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and James Johnson and Josh Richardson each scored 16 points for Miami (2-3).
The Celtics increased a two-point lead at halftime and took their first double-digit lead at 65-54 on Aron Baynes jumper with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Smart scored eight points in a 10-0 run early in the second quarter that gave the Celtics a 35-30 advantage. Smart keyed the surge with two 3s and a layup.
Later in the quarter, Miami rallied from a seven-point deficit and outscored Boston 11-4. James Johnson's three-point play 1:09 remaining in the quarter ended the spurt and tied it at 45 before Irving's layup with a second remaining in the quarter gave the Celtics a 47-45 lead at halftime.
NOTES: Rookie G Jayson Tatum scored in double figures for the fifth time in six professional games. Tatum's only game without double digits in the stretch was his eight-point performance against Milwaukee on Oct. 18. ... Celtics coach Brad Stevens said G Marcus Smart will remain on a limited minute pace as he continues to recover from a left ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games. Smart played 26 minutes against Miami. ... Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said C Hassan Whiteside's return would be assisted with a practice session but didn't make it the only factor. Whiteside missed his fourth consecutive game because of a left knee bruise he sustained in Miami's season-opening game against Orlando on Oct. 25. ... Rookie C Bam Adebayo made his second consecutive start in place of Whiteside. Adebayo finished with six points and three rebounds.
Oct 28, 2017
MIAMI -- Kyrie Irving scored 24 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 96-90 victory over the Miami Heat on Saturday night.
Irving scored five consecutive points in the final two minutes as the Celtics (4-2) held off a late Miami rally for their fourth consecutive victory and eighth straight against the Heat. Miami has not defeated Boston since March 25, 2015.
The Heat rallied from an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter and got within 88-86 on Goran Dragic's layup with 1:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. Irving responded with a short jumper and a 3-pointer that gave the Celtics 93-86 lead with 57 seconds left.
Jayson Tatum scored 20 points as the rookie from Duke went 6 of 9 from the field. Marcus Smart finished with 16 points and Al Horford was Boston's fourth double figures scorer with 12 points.
Dragic scored 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and James Johnson and Josh Richardson each scored 16 points for Miami (2-3).
The Celtics increased a two-point lead at halftime and took their first double-digit lead at 65-54 on Aron Baynes jumper with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Smart scored eight points in a 10-0 run early in the second quarter that gave the Celtics a 35-30 advantage. Smart keyed the surge with two 3s and a layup.
Later in the quarter, Miami rallied from a seven-point deficit and outscored Boston 11-4. James Johnson's three-point play 1:09 remaining in the quarter ended the spurt and tied it at 45 before Irving's layup with a second remaining in the quarter gave the Celtics a 47-45 lead at halftime.
NOTES: Rookie G Jayson Tatum scored in double figures for the fifth time in six professional games. Tatum's only game without double digits in the stretch was his eight-point performance against Milwaukee on Oct. 18. ... Celtics coach Brad Stevens said G Marcus Smart will remain on a limited minute pace as he continues to recover from a left ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games. Smart played 26 minutes against Miami. ... Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said C Hassan Whiteside's return would be assisted with a practice session but didn't make it the only factor. Whiteside missed his fourth consecutive game because of a left knee bruise he sustained in Miami's season-opening game against Orlando on Oct. 25. ... Rookie C Bam Adebayo made his second consecutive start in place of Whiteside. Adebayo finished with six points and three rebounds.
