Netease Sports reported on May 18:
The NBA playoffs continue, Miami Heat Win a good start and win the home court advantage. Butler got 35 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, and Adebayor got 20 points and 8 rebounds. They led the team to use the climax of the third quarter to realize the counter attack and establish the advantage. The Heat withstood the opponent's counter attack and beat Boston Celtics 123-116 in the first game of the Eastern finals. The Heat took a 1-0 lead and won the home court advantage. The second game of the series between the two sides will continue to be held in Boston.
Butler of the Heat got 35 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals, Adebayor got 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, Struss got 15 points, Lori got 15 points and 3 assists, Martin got 15 points and 4 rebounds, and Vincent got 15 points. Tatum of Celtics got 30 points and 7 rebounds, Brown got 22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, Brogden got 19 points, Lowe got 14 points and 7 rebounds, Smart got 13 points and 11 assists, and White got 11 points.
After the start of the match, the two sides competed fiercely. They were evenly divided for many times. The lead changed several times. Vincent and Butler teamed up for 7 points, and the Heat led 15-13. Tatum responded with three points, Martin responded with three points and led the team to get another five points. The Heat led 22-19 with 4:35 left in the first quarter. Brown scored 4 points and took the lead again. Butler hit a jumper and White's left wing three points. At the end of the first quarter, the Celtics led by 30-28 points.
After the beginning of the second quarter, the two teams saw a few rounds, and Lori scored two three-point goals in a row, and the Heat regained the lead. Brogden, Brown and Rowe took turns to score to help the team catch up. After 44 and 47, Hoford scored 5 points, and Brown scored 3 points. They led the team to a 10-0 climax. Struss hit a jump shot to temporarily stop the bleeding, Hoford and Tatum shared 5 points, and the Celtics led by 62-49 with 13 points. Butler hit back with three points. Of Vincent's three points, the Heat narrowed the gap to single digits. Lowe's empty dunk ended the second quarter, and the Celtics led by 9 points with 66-57.
Tatum of Celtics got 18 points and 5 rebounds in the first half, Lowe got 12 points and 6 rebounds, Brogden got 12 points, Brown got 11 points and 5 rebounds, and Smart sent 10 assists; Butler of the Heat got 15 points and Lori got 13 points.
Smart hit three points, and shortly after the beginning of the third quarter, the Celtics again led by 12 points. Adebayor scored three points in a row, and Struth and Love scored three points each. They led the team to hit a 13-1 counter attack climax, and the Heat tied 72. Brown responded with three points, and Adebayor and Struss took turns to score to help the team lead again. Smart shot three points from the bottom corner, Butler scored three points successfully, and Struss scored three points. They led the team to another 10-2 climax, with the Heat leading by 86-80.
Tatum returned 4 points with a series of free throws, and Butler did not let him take 8 points to consolidate his lead. White and Tatum successively scored points, while Martin and Struss scored three points, and Lori shot in the middle. At the end of the three quarters, the Heat led 103-91. The Heat scored 46 points in a single quarter.
The Celtics, who had no way to retreat, made efforts in the fourth quarter, chasing seven separate games, and they were only five points behind. Vincent responded with three points after the Heat paused. Adebayor and Butler also took turns to score. They led 112-103 with 6:45 left in the fourth quarter. Tatum hit four free throws for consecutive fouls, and the Heat had to stop again. Both sides missed many scoring opportunities later. Brogden made one of two free throws, Martin and Butler scored three points each. The Heat led 120-110 in the fourth quarter with one minute left. Smart's breakthrough was successful. Tatum hit two free throws. The Celtics could not steal but fouled. Vincent hit two free throws. The Heat led by 122-114. Brogden scored a breakthrough and Butler hit one of two free throws. The Heat won 123-116.
Heat's starting lineup: Vincent, Struss, Butler, Love, Adebayor
The first team of Celtics: Smart, Brown, Tatum, Hoford, Rowe