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Boston paid the price for failing to close the game when it mattered with Jimmy Butler-inspired Miami taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final
Over the past two postseasons, the Boston Celtics have repeatedly responded well after losses. They have also repeatedly struggled in close late-game situations.
In control for significant portions of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat on Saturday morning, the Celtics appeared poised to even this series at a game apiece, but another collapse has them staring at an 0-2 deficit.
Game 3 is Sunday night in Miami.
"At the end of the day, we have a real, real decision to make," Celtics forward Grant Williams said. "And that decision is going to be, are we going to come back and really set the tone for the rest of this year and really make a statement, or are we going to come out and lay down? And I don't think this team is built for laying down."
Whether or not the Celtics are ready to lie down, they find themselves in a massive hole after Jimmy Butler and the Heat once again took them apart in the closing moments of the game.
In the fourth quarter of Game 1 on Wednesday night, the Heat held Boston scoreless for over four minutes and forced three turnovers, including two traveling violations by Jayson Tatum, inside the final three minutes.
In Game 2, after Williams had a dunk with three minutes, 52 seconds remaining, the Celtics didn't make a field goal for the rest of the night, missing their final four shots and committing two turnovers. They essentially had a third turnover on a backcourt violation against Al Horford and saw Tatum nearly lose the ball multiple times late in the contest.
That allowed Miami to close with a 24-9 run over the final 6 minutes, 37 seconds. Butler scored nine of his 27 points in the fourth, and Bam Adebayo, who had 22 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists, had eight points, eight rebounds and four assists in the quarter, including a pair of huge offensive rebounds.
"This is a series of discipline and mindset," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said, "and there were times throughout the game where we weren't the more disciplined team."
For the Celtics, it is a familiar refrain. Against the Heat in Game 7 of last year's conference finals, Boston nearly coughed up a double-digit lead late. The Celtics have repeatedly struggled in these situations at plenty of other points over the past couple of seasons, as well.
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