Heat split mini-series with Celtics in TD Garden

The season series between Miami and Boston is 1-2 in Boston’s favor after the Heat edged out the Celtics in overtime last Friday. The game was competitive all night, but a late game run in the fourth carried into overtime after Jaylen Brown made a long three with two seconds left on the clock, forcing an extra period.

In his return to the starting lineup, Jimmy Butler scored 25 and gathered a season-high 15 rebounds. Butler had missed the Heat's previous seven games with a sore right knee.

Bam Adebayo led the way offensively with 28 points of his own. In his absence, Adebayo has been on a tear. He's taken a much-needed step offensively, averaging 25 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists per game in Butler's absence. Tyler Herro added another 26 points, while Kyle Lowry followed with 20 of his own.

Led by their MVP candidate, Jayson Tatum, the Celtics had only lost four games up until this point. But, Friday, he ended the night on 5-of-18 shooting, not hitting a single three all night, going 0-of-7 from the line, and finishing with only 14 points. The Celtics missed his production. When the fourth quarter came around, he went 2-of-5 in regulation and 1-for-4 in overtime.

Turnovers plagued the Celtics all night, and the Heat forced 11 of their 20 on the night. Brown kept the team alive with his blistering 37 points on 12-of-23 shooting. Marcus Smart and Grant Williams both scored 18 in Tatum's absence, and Derrick White followed with 13.

The Heat moved one game below .500, going 11-12, while the Celtics fell 18-5.