Butler scores 35, Heat rally to beat Celtics 123-116 in Game 1

BOSTON (AP) —Jimmy Butler scored 35 points, including 23 after halftime, and theMiami Heat rallied in the second half to beat the Boston Celtics123-116 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesdaynight.

Miami trailedby nine at the half before turning it around with a franchiseplayoff-record 46 points in the third and outscoring Boston 66-50over the final two quarters. It was Butler’s fifth game with 30 ormore points this postseason and he added seven assists, six stealsand five rebounds.

Bam Adebayoadded 20 points and eight rebounds. Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin andGabe Vincent and Max Strus all added 15 points apiece. The Heatwent 16 of 31 from the 3-point line.

The No.8-seeded Heat have opened all three playoff series with roadvictories. Game 2 is Friday in Boston.

Jayson Tatumled the Celtics with 30 points, but didn’t take a shot in thefourth quarter. Jaylen Brown finished with 22 points and ninerebounds. Malcolm Brogdon added 19 points.

The tip-offof Wednesday’s series marked the third time in four seasons thatthe Heat and Celtics have met in the conference finals. Boston wonlast year’s matchup in seven games.

Wednesday’sopener felt every bit like a continuation of that most recentmeeting. Boston dominated inside early on and led by nine athalftime.

Miami took apage out of the Celtics’ book and used a 13-1 run to quickly erasethat gap and then nudged back in front in the third quarter, asButler penetrated to create opportunities for his teammates.

The Heatoutscored the Celtics 46-25 in the period and took a 103-91 leadinto the fourth, prompting a few boos from the TD Garden crowd.

Bostonresponded, scoring the first seven points of the final periodbefore a 3-pointer by Vincent ended the run.

Miami led114-109 with just over three minutes to play when Brogdon wasfouled by Butler. But he connected on just 1 of the 2 free throws.Butler was trapped on the next Miami possession before findingMartin for a corner 3.

Tatumtravelled, giving the ball back to the Heat. A Miami miss gave theball back to Boston, but Tatum was called again for travelling.

Miami woundthe shot clock down before getting a 3-pointer to rattle in with1:03 remaining.

The Celticslet Butler get loose early and he made them pay with 12first-quarter points.

Boston’sdefense tightened in the second and Butler didn’t take another shotuntil the 5:45 mark, an airball resulting in a shot clockviolation. His second attempt of the quarter a few minutes laterhad the same result. He went into intermission with 15 points.

Meanwhile,the Celtics attacked the rim, outscoring the Heat 40-16 in thepaint in the opening 24 minutes – the most allowed by Miami in ahalf this season. Boston also held an 11-2 advantage insecond-chance points.

TIP-INS

Heat: Miami’sprevious high in the playoffs was 43 points against Charlotte in2016. … Lowry hit 5 of his first 6 shots, scoring 13 points in hisfirst nine minutes of action. … Butler (12) and Adebayo (6)combined for 18 of Miami’s 28 points in the first quarter. Itmarked the seventh time Butler has reached double figures in thefirst period this postseason.

Celtics:Marcus Smart finished with 13 points and 11 assists. … Led 66-57 athalftime. With the score tied at 47, Boston outscored Miami 19-10over the final 5:26 of the half. … Brown wore his black protectivemask after going without it for the final two games of theirsemifinals matchup with the 76ers. He fractured a facial bone latein the regular season. … New England Patriots coach Bill Belichickwas in attendance.