Boston Celtics 'out-toughed' as Miami Heat use huge third quarter to take Game 1 behind Jimmy Butler

MIAMI — The Boston Celtics exited their locker room at halftime Tuesday night firmly in control of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

But then the third quarter happened. And, after the Miami Heat demolished the Celtics, outscoring them 39-14 and using their physicality to send Boston into a death spiral of miscues and unforced errors, the Heat were on their way to a 118-107 victory to take the opening game of this best-of-seven affair.

«More than anything, it just shows us what we are capable of whenever we worry about getting stops, getting into the open floor, getting to the free throw line, all those good things,» said Jimmy Butler, who led the way for Miami with his latest spectacular performance in these playoffs, finishing with a game-high 41 points — including 17 in that decisive third quarter — nine rebounds and five assists in 41 minutes.

«It just reminds me, we can do it. I see it on this piece of paper. I lived it. So I expect us to do that every quarter from here on out.»

That's a high bar to live up to. Miami pummeled Boston into submission in that third quarter to the point where the Celtics played not only their worst 12 minutes of these playoffs so far — but one of the worst quarters Boston has had, period.

"[We] got out-toughed, out-physicaled," Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. «They looked like they came out in the second half and wanted to up their physicality and aggression on both ends, and they did that.»

They certainly did.

Here's a sampling of the disastrous statistics dredged up by that quarter:

The Celtics shot 2-for-15 from the field in the quarter, their worst shooting quarter over the past four seasons, either regular season or playoffs.

After Boston went 15-for-28 on contested shots in