Celtics turn for ECF blowout, beat Heat by 20 to even series 2-2

Another Eastern Conference Finals game. Another blowout.

We could try to explain this “hey, I wonder what’s on the Food Network” kind of game in a few different ways. Part of it was Boston’s defense played with the desperation of a team that knew it needed a win. Robert Williams was back and patrolling the paint, contesting the little floaters that Bam Adebayo loves to toss up. Al Horford was in everyone’s face.

Or we could talk about how Jimmy Butler, playing through the knee issue that kept him out the second half of Game 3, was not himself, hitting just 3-of-14 on the night. When Butler isn’t right and Tyler Herro is out, the Heat struggled to create good looks or hit tough shots.

Maybe it was all of the above. The bottom line: It was another blowout in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Miami missed their first 14 shots, scored 11 points in the first quarter and 33 points in the first half.

The Heat did not make a shot until 3:22 left in the 1st quarter, the longest drought without a field goal to start any playoff game over the last 25 years. pic.twitter.com/pKIBjxodDU

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 24, 2022

For Boston, Jayson Tatum looked like his All-NBA self again with 31 points, and the Celtics routed the Heat 102-82 in a game that saw a 20-point Boston lead in the first quarter and was never seriously contested after that.

The Eastern Conference Finals are tied 2-2 with Game 5 in Miami on Wednesday.

Maybe that’s part of the problem — the conference finals are played every other day, travel or no travel. Teams get more rest in the first round, in series with less on the line, and both the Heat and Celtics are battling injuries and fatigue this series. More rest would mean a better product when more people