NBA: Heat rally past Celtics 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals

In Game 2, the Miami Heat upset the Boston Celtics 106 to 101 after two huge big defensive play by Jimmy Butler on and clutch shots from Goran Dragic.

Bam Adebayo finished with 21, Goran Dragic scored 25 points and again Heat haul off another comeback to beat the Celtics to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

“We got grit,” Adebayo said.

“That’s about all I can tell you. We got grit, man.”

Jimmy Butler scored 14, whereas Duncan Robinson put up 18 points, Jae Crowder 12 and Tyler Herro 11. At the early 3rd quarter of the game, Heats were trailing by 17 points.

They had been 0-21 in playoff games when trailing by at least that many at the half time. They’re 1-21 now postseason, and two wins shy from their first NBA Finals since 2014.

“We like to make it hard on ourselves,” Butler said.

“We like being down double-digits and being the comeback kids.”

Kemba Walker scored 23 points for Celtics which got 21 apiece from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. At the end of the fourth quarter, Butler sealed it with two free throws with 7.4 seconds remaining.

Marcus Smart didn’t talk to the media after his reported locker room meltdown and get heated with few teammates in the locker room. 

“It was nothing,” Walker said.

“It was nothing.”

Added Tatum: “We’re frustrated. But that’s team sports. Not supposed to be happy we’re down 0-2. But that’s nothing out of the ordinary. Just talking about the game. It’s cool.”

Game 2, Dragic came clutch for heat at the offensive side also playing on the third anniversary of his best basketball moment, that being when as a captain he guided his team to the EuroBasket Championship.

“Feels exactly the same,” Dragic said,

when asked to compare Slovenia’s golden moment to the Heat win Thursday. “A great day.”

The Heat took a 2-0 series lead for the 11th time in coach Erik Spoelstra’s tenure. They’ve won all previous 10 instances.