Boston’s Three-Point Barrage Sinks Miami in 108-89 Blowout

The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 108-89 on Monday night, relying on strong performances from Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard to secure their eighth win in nine games. Brown led all scorers with 29 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists, while Pritchard contributed 25 points off the bench. Jayson Tatum added a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Celtics overcome a short-handed roster to claim the victory.

Both teams entered the game dealing with injuries and absences. Miami was without Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, Josh Richardson, and others, while Boston played without Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford. Despite the absences, the Celtics leaned heavily on their three-point shooting, hitting 19 of 55 attempts from beyond the arc. Boston’s league-leading ability to connect from long range proved to be the difference, as the Heat struggled offensively. Miami shot a season-worst 23% from three-point range and just 35.6% from the field overall.

The Heat started strong, opening the game with a 7-0 run, but their momentum was short-lived. Boston responded with a 17-2 run to take control of the game, building a double-digit lead by the second quarter. The Celtics extended their advantage to 20 points in the third quarter and pushed the lead to 22 points at the end of the period with a buzzer-beating layup from Pritchard. By the second half, Boston’s lead grew to as much as 27 points, leaving Miami with little chance to mount a comeback.

Payton Pritchard continued to impress off the bench, becoming the first player this season to score 20 or more points in four consecutive games as a reserve. His performance included five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Pritchard’s consistent scoring has been a valuable asset for Boston, especially with several starters unavailable. His current streak is the best by a Celtics bench player since Isaiah Thomas in 2015.

For Miami, it was a tough night offensively. Tyler Herro finished with 19 points but struggled from the field, shooting 6 of 19 overall and 2 of 10 from three-point range. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. provided a bright spot, recording a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, but he also faced challenges with efficiency, shooting just 5 of 14. Most of Jaquez’s scoring came from the free-throw line, where he made 9 of 12 attempts. Miami rookie Keshad Johnson made his NBA debut, scoring two points in seven minutes of action.

The loss highlighted Miami’s reliance on its three-point shooting, which faltered badly in this game. In contrast, Boston’s ability to generate offense from beyond the arc gave them a decisive edge. Both teams will now look to regroup as they prepare for their next games. The Heat return home to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night and hope they can get back to .500 against a struggling Lakers team.

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