Brilliant Jimmy Butler leads Miami past stunned Boston to double Eastern Conference lead
Miami talisman Butler finished with 27 points as the eighth seeds grabbed a second straight victory at Boston's TD Garden to leave the Celtics with a mountain to climb if they are to reach the NBA finals.
Miami had trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter and the Celtics led by as much as nine with under seven minutes of the final frame remaining.
But Butler led a sensational 20-9 Miami run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that turned the game on its head and left his team just two wins away from returning to the NBA finals as the best-of-seven series heads to Miami for games three and four.
"We got some dogs, and I love it, I love every bit of it," an elated Butler said during an on-court interview after the Miami win.
"Guys never quit, guys never give up, we love playing with one another - we got so much faith and trust in one another."
Nine of Butler's 27 points came during the fourth-quarter rally, with the Miami star seemingly fired up after an angry nose-to-nose exchange with Boston's Grant Williams midway through the fourth quarter.
At that stage in the game, Boston led 96-89, but Miami launched a devastating late run that turned the contest decisively in favor of the Heat.
"Just healthy competition, and I love it," Butler said afterwards of his exchange with Williams.
"I'm always here to compete, I like to talk at times, as long as we get the win I'm good with it though."
Butler received offensive support from Caleb Martin, with 25 points off the bench, while Bam Adebayo delivered another all-round effort with 22 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.
Duncan Robinson added 15 points from the bench, including three three-pointers.
A shellshocked Boston, meanwhile, were left reflecting on another shattering defeat at home despite 34 points from Jayson Tatum.
Jaylen Brown finished with 16 points but had a wayward shooting night, making only seven of 23 from the field, while Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon had 13 points apiece.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla blamed indiscipline and mental frailty for his team's defeat.
"It comes down to the details and the margins," Mazzulla said.
"This is a series of discipline and mindset. And there were times throughout the game where we weren't the more disciplined team."
Asked if he believed Boston's late collapse was "mental", Mazzulla agreed.
"It's mental from the standpoint of who can make the right plays at the right times, who can make the simple plays, who can win those details and those margins," Mazzulla said. "So, yeah, it's definitely mental."
Game three takes place in Miami on Sunday.
