How the Heat got burned in Game 2, starring Marcus Smart, Al Horford and the Celtics' rejuvenated offense
CBSN
Boston calmed down and picked Miami apart to even the series on Thursday
An unspeakably ugly third-quarter performance cost the Boston Celtics Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Two days later, a downright dominant performance tied their series against the Miami Heat.
When both teams started to sub in their deep reserves with 6:18 left in the fourth quarter on Thursday, the Celtics led by 32 points. Against one of the NBA's best and most physical defenses, they'd shot 38 for 70 (54.3 percent) from the field and 19 for 33 (57.6 percent) from the 3-point line, with 24 assists and only nine turnovers, scoring 143.8 points per 100 possessions on 72.6 percent true shooting.
In other words, Miami had no answers. With starters Marcus Smart and Al Horford back after a mid-foot sprain and a brief stint in the NBA's health and safety protocols, respectively, the Celtics' offense was otherworldly in a 127-105 Game 2 win. Smart and Horford brought what coach Ime Udoka called a "calming presence" to a team that desperately needed it.
