Butler, Heat looking to build on strong second half in Game 2

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler doesn’t like being a called a scorer.

Never mind that the moniker seems appropriate. He’s averaging nearly 30 points per game in this postseason, has reached the 40-point mark three times in his last 10 games after having zero such regular season games since 2017, and carried the Miami Heat over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

But say “scorer” to him, and he will scoff in disdain.

“I’ve been a quote-unquote scorer at other points in my career, and it didn’t work out too well for me,” Butler said.

Things have been working out just fine so far in this postseason for Butler and the top-seeded Heat, who’ll look to take a 2-0 lead in the East title series when they play host to the second-seeded Celtics again on Thursday night. It won’t be easy: The Celtics are 3-0 after losses in these playoffs, winning those bounceback games by an average of 14.7 points and getting two of those victories on the road.

But it remains unclear if they’ll have defensive player of the year Marcus Smart (mid-foot sprain) back for Game 2. The Celtics were also without forward Al Horford (health and safety protocols) for Game 1 — his status seems dubious at best for Game 2 given the NBA’s return-to-play rules — plus said coach Ime Udoka was sick Wednesday with a non-COVID illness.

“We have a lot of confidence,” Celtics center Daniel Theis said Wednesday as his team gathered for a film session.

Game 1 was a 118-107 loss for the Celtics on Tuesday night, though Boston pointed out after the game that the combined scores of the first, second and fourth quarters added up to Celtics 93, Heat 79.

That pesky third quarter, however, counted.

A 39-14 romp by Miami in those 12 minutes — Butler had 17