Boston Celtics swap Williamses, go small to stomp Miami Heat in Game 2

MIAMI — For the first few minutes of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, it appeared the Boston Celtics could be in some trouble.

They left Miami's shooters open for three quick 3-pointers. They allowed the Heat to get multiple second chance opportunities. Robert Williams looked uncomfortable defending in space and Miami kept making him — and Boston — pay.

But then, at the 5 minute, 14 second mark of the first quarter, Grant Williams checked into the game. And, from that point forward, this game — and this series--- fundamentally changed.

Boston absolutely scorched Miami over the final 17 minutes of the first half, going on a 57-27 run while Williams never left the floor en route to a 127-102 victory in front of a shell-shocked sellout crowd here at FTX Arena.

The win evened the series at a game apiece.

«He just [has come] a long way from his first year,» said Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who led the Celtics with 27 points, said of Grant Williams. «He's worked on his game, and he's developed into somebody that we believe and trust in to catch it at half court.

»He sees an opening, takes it to the hole, makes the right play. That's what he did."

Boston spent the little less than 48 hours between the end of its Game 1 loss to Miami Tuesday night and tip-off of Game 2 Thursday expressing quiet confidence in its ability to bounce back. The Celtics could point to winning three of the four quarters in the first game, losing thanks to being outscored 39-14 in a truly disastrous third quarter.

They also got back a pair of starters in Marcus Smart and Al Horford, who missed Game 1 because of a midfoot sprain and being in the NBA's health and safety protocols, respectively.

But things didn't truly click into place for the