Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball over Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 17, 2022 in Miami, Fla.Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Game 1 hero Jimmy Butler isn’t much for rating his performance or basking in the achievement, even when topping the 40-point mark.
However, Butler will be out to match a stellar all-around effort in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night when his Miami Heat play host to the Boston Celtics.
Butler scored 41 points and also contributed nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocked shots to help Miami overcome a 13-point, second-quarter deficit en route to a 118-107 victory on Tuesday.
It was Butler’s fifth 40-point performance in the playoffs during his three seasons with the Heat – only franchise icon Dwyane Wade (seven) has more – but he played down talk that he stepped up to meet the moment.
“Probably because I don’t care if it’s a big stage or a little stage or who is watching,” Butler said. “I do what I do for my family, for my people, for my organization and for my teammates. That’s it. Doesn’t matter if it’s a big stage, home or away. I know why I do what I do.”
Boston didn’t know how to stop him, especially when Butler scored 17 points in the third quarter that began with a 22-2 Miami run and closed with a 17-3 burst.
The Celtics’ 62-54 halftime lead evaporated and the team trailed 93-76 entering the final stanza.
Boston guard Jaylen Brown said his club needs to rattle Butler in Game 2.
“He’s comfortable,” Brown said. “He’s very comfortable right now, and we’ve got to do a better job of breaking that rhythm that he’s in. That’s it. We’ve got to take the challenge.”
Brown pointed out that it was “uncharacteristic” of the Celtics to allow 118 points.
Part of the problem was NBA defensive player of the year Marcus Smart (right foot) sat out the contest and big man Al Horford (COVID-19 protocol) was a late scratch. Smart is hopeful of a return Thursday night while Horford realistically could return for Saturday’s Game 3 in Boston.
While the loss of Smart and Horford hurt, the Celtics unravelled in the third quarter when they were outscored 39-14 and made just two of 15 field-goal attempts with eight turnovers.