Heat se asegura un puesto en los playoffs con una victoria por 129-121 sobre los Celtics
BOSTON (AP) Tyler Herro anotó 24 puntos y el Miami Heat aseguró un lugar en los playoffs y envió a los Boston Celtics al borde del torneo de play-in el martes por la noche con una victoria por 129-121.
Miami empató con Atlanta inactiva por el quinto lugar en la Conferencia Este. El Heat emergente ganó por décima vez en 13 juegos. Les quedan tres partidos en la temporada regular.
» Significa algo. No queremos actuar como si nada », dijo el entrenador de Miami, Erik Spoelstra. «No es todo lo que queremos».
Bam Adebayo y Duncan Robinson anotaron 22 puntos cada uno, Kendrick Nunn 18 y Goran Dragic 17 para el Heat. Barrieron la serie de dos juegos en Boston.
«Tener la oportunidad de jugar por todo es lo que todos quieren hacer», dijo Robinson. «Es un buen primer paso».
La estrella de Miami Jimmy Butler tenía 13 antes de perderse la segunda mitad por una lesión en el ojo.
Kemba Walker lideró a los Celtics en su último partido en casa de temporada regular con 36 puntos. Jayson Tatum anotó 33 y Evan Fournier 20. Boston ha perdido siete de 10.
«Es una cuestión de orgullo», dijo Walker. » Individualmente, todos tenemos que mirarnos al espejo y decir: ‘¿Estamos dando todo lo que tenemos?’ Y para ser honesto, no lo somos ».
Los Celtics, que ya tenían asegurado un lugar en el torneo de play-in 7-10, están a tres juegos de Miami y Atlanta, pero perdieron el desempate contra ambos equipos. Boston tiene tres juegos restantes.
«Cuando tienes la oportunidad de llegar a la postemporada, no puedes quejarte de eso», dijo Walker.
Fue el primer juego para los Celtics desde que anunciaron el lunes que el alero All-Star Jaylen Brown se perdería el resto de la temporada para someterse a una cirugía en su muñeca izquierda por un tendón desgarrado.
BOSTON (AP) Tyler Herro scored 24 points and the Miami Heat clinched a playoff spot and sent the Boston Celtics to the brink of the play-in tournament Tuesday night with a 129-121 victory.
Miami moved into a tie with idle Atlanta for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The surging Heat won for the 10th time in 13 games. They have three games left in the regular season.
»It does mean something. We don’t want to act like it’s nothing,» Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. »It’s not everything we want.»
Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson each scored 22 points, Kendrick Nunn had 18 and Goran Dragic 17 for the Heat. They swept the two-game series in Boston.
»To have a chance to play for everything is what everyone wants to do,» Robinson said. »It’s a good first step.»
Miami star Jimmy Butler had 13 before missing the second half with an eye injury.
Kemba Walker led the Celtics in their regular-season home finale with 36 points. Jayson Tatum scored 33 and Evan Fournier 20. Boston has lost seven of 10.
»It’s a pride thing,» Walker said. »Individually, we’ve all got to look into the mirror and say: `Are we giving everything we’ve got?’ And to be honest, we’re not.»
The Celtics, who were already assured of a spot in the 7-10 play-in tournament, trail Miami and Atlanta by three games, but lost the tiebreaker against both teams. Boston has three games left.
»When you have an opportunity to still make the postseason, you can’t complain about that,» Walker said.
It was the first game for the Celtics since they announced Monday that All-Star forward Jaylen Brown would miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on his left wrist for a torn tendon.
»We have to find the best version of the group that’s available right now,» Boston coach Brad Stevens said.
Coming off a 130-124 win over the Celtics on Sunday, the Heat showed the scoring balance – even without Butler – that carried them to the Eastern Conference title over Boston last season.
»That’s who we are when we’re at our best,» Spoelstra said. »The more weapons we have, we’re a more viable team.»
Both teams tightened up defensively in the third quarter, and it became more physical, with Boston’s Marcus Smart briefly having words with Robinson after the pair went to the floor hard when Smart was called for a foul.
Robinson scored eight of his 13 third-quarter points during a 17-4 spree that pushed Miami’s lead to 93-77. The Heat led by 14 entering the final quarter.
Dragic’s 3 gave the Heat a 105-84 edge with 9:02 to play, bringing some boos cascading down from the crowd filled to 25% percent capacity.
»I feel like this is what every player works for when the lights are on,» Herro said. »I’m ready to make another run again.»
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