The Celtics left no doubt they are the better team in Game 1 rout of Heat

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics are back in the playoffs in hopes of getting banner 18, and they beat the Miami Heat on Sunday 114-94 — and though the C’s won, there came some turbulence.

It was in the fourth quarter when the Heat started to make a run and turn the big lead into a 15 point game deficit. The crowd at the Garden became restless and it took veteran Al Horford and a Joe Mazzulla timeout for the C’s to get back on track. Also, Derrick White had to be subbed back in the final minutes as well.

What also helped the C’s was that they were hot from deep. They tied a team record in the playoffs with 22 made shots from behind the arc. The C’s showed all season that they can keep up the consistent shooting, but best believe Erik Spoelstra will find an answer for that in this series.

Jayson Tatum got his third triple-double of his career with 23 points, 10 rebounds and assists. Derrick White was second in scoring with 20 points. Although Kristaps Porzingis dropped 18 and Jaylen Brown 17, they didn’t perform how they should’ve — that’s something that can’t keep happening. Not that the top three guys need to each score 30 points, but at least two need to score above 20 points. The Celtics don’t have much depth, and if it wasn’t for Jimmy Butler being out with an injury, there would be large reason for concern.

Did the Heat figure something out in the fourth quarter? Perhaps. Can the C’s keep up that same amount of shooting? Somewhat, but doubtful when looking at the defensive intensity Miami brings. Nonetheless, the Celtics are up one game against the same team they lost to in the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

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QUOTE TO LIVE BY

“I’ve got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end”

~ Larry Bird