Jimmy Butler drops 41, Heat dominate third quarter, cruise to Game 1 win

It was a tale of two halves.

There was the first half where the iron of the Celtics looked like it had been sharpened by the iron of the defending champion Bucks. Boston got into the paint for 42 points in the first 24 minutes, breaking down the Heat defense with relative ease, and Jayson Tatum was the best player on the floor with 21 points and 5 assists.

Then came the second half and Jimmy Butler leading a resurgent Miami squad. The Heat’s defense both cranked up the intensity and came out connected on that end — they were physical, were in passing lanes, forced turnovers, and held the Celtics to 2-of-8 shooting in the paint in the third quarter. Those stops turned into quick offense on the other end, and the Heat started the second half on a 22-2 run, finishing with 39 points in the frame.

The third quarter scoreboard: Jimmy Butler 17, the entire Celtics team 14. Butler finished the game with 41 points, getting to the free throw line 18 times.

Another night with 40+ points. Jimmy is a man on a mission. pic.twitter.com/XlhOijtwOG

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 18, 2022

By the end of the third quarter the Heat were up 17 and the game was never seriously contested after that.

The Heat cruised to a 118-107 win in Game 1. Game 2 is Thursday night in Miami.

Boston could have help for Game 2. Marcus Smart missed Game 1 with a sprained foot, and he may play Thursday night. Al Horford also missed Game 1 due to a positive COVID test, although it is less likely he will clear protocols before Thursday.

The Celtics missed those two veterans. They are the guys who tend to calm nerves and settle the team when an opponent makes a run. Nobody on Boston could do that in the third quarter, when the Celtics didn’t score a bucket for the