In the Eastern Conference finals, Bam Adebayo made a game-winning clutch block with 2.5 seconds left in overtime as the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 117-114 in the opening game of ECF.
Adebayo jumps up high to make an important block to Jayson Tatum dunk to maintain the Heat’s lead, 116-114.
Perfection https://t.co/XHXOmMgBXV
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 16, 2020
on the play, Adebayo got fouled and the ref awarded an offensive foul on Celtics then bam scoring by sinking a free throw at the end of the OT game period.
“He is the heart and soul of our team on the defensive end,” Jimmy Butler said of Adebayo.
“We love and appreciate him. I know I sure do.”
Tatum, who finished with a game-high 30 points, missed a desperation 29-foot three-pointer at the buzzer.
“He made a great play,” Tatum said of Adebayo’s block.
“That’s all it is. He made a good play, can’t do anything about it.”
Game two is Thursday night in Orlando.
Jimmy Butler finished with 20, Goran Dragic scored 29 points, Jae Crowder had 22 for the Heat, who eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs in 2011 and 2012.
Jimmy Butler gave the Heat tough 2 points and was fouled at the shot. with 3 point conversion, score settled at 115-114.
“My job is to help our team win in the fourth and overtime. I try to pull through as much as I can,” said Butler, of the game-winning basket.
Miami Heats are trying to get back to the NBA finals for the first time since Lebron and D-wade heat run of successive appearances during 2014 series.
“It was a great win. We’re up 1-0, but we got three more to get,” Adebayo said.
Marcus Smart put up 26 points and Tatum also had 14 rebounds and five assists the Celtics who are trying to get into ECF for the first time 3 years.
“Gotta tip your hat off to those guys,” Smart said.
“They executed very well down the stretch, we didn’t.”
The Heat trailed by as much as 13 in the first quarter before outscoring the Celtics 37-29 in the second. Miami shot 68.1 per cent in the second period, including six of eight from beyond the arc.
