Celtics vs. Heat score, results: Marcus Smart shines in return from injury in Game 2 blowout

Scott Rafferty

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Celtics vs. Heat score, results: Marcus Smart shines in return from injury in Game 2 blowout image

The Celtics responded to their Game 1 loss to the Heat in impressive fashion.

Jayson Tatum scored a team-high 27 points as the Celtics cruised to victory in Game 2 to tie the series up at 1-1. Marcus Smart added 24 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in his return from injury, and Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points.

Jimmy Butler continued his strong play with 29 points in 32 minutes of action, but he didn't receive nearly enough help to keep it close.

The Sporting News tracked all of the action from Game 2 below.

Celtics vs. Heat score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Celtics 35 35 26 31 127
Heat 24 21 26 31 102

Celtics vs. Heat results, highlights from Game 2

Final score: Celtics 127, Heat 102

10:50 p.m. — Marcus Smart exits the game with 24 points (8-22 FG), 12 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. He struggled to knock down shots early but ended up making a tremendous impact on both ends of the court in his return.

10:45 p.m. — A 3-pointer from Al Horford puts the Celtics up by 31 points, their largest lead of the game.

10:43 p.m. — Marcus Smart is feeling it.

End of third quarter: Celtics 96, Heat 71

10:34 p.m. — The Heat had their best quarter yet, but the Celtics responded time and time again to keep this a 25-point game going into the final frame.

Jimmy Butler leads all scorers with 29 points but he hasn't had much help. Jayson Tatum has a team-high 27 points for the Celtics, and Marcus Smart (18), Jaylen Brown (17) and Grant Williams (16) are each in double figures.

10:28 p.m. — Duncan Robinson is checking in for the Heat. He scored 27 points in Miami's Game 1 win over Atlanta in the opening round, but he's since fallen out of the rotation.

10:27 p.m. — Marcus Smart is out here breaking ankles.

10:23 p.m. — Heat's P.J. Tucker (left knee contusion) will not return to this game, per the broadcast.

10:21 p.m. — Here come the Heat? A 3-pointer from Gabe Vincent and and-one from Jimmy Butler cuts Boston's lead to 17 points with 3:46 remaining in the period.

10:12 p.m. — Update: Boston continues to lead ... by a lot. We're almost halfway through the third period and the Celtics are up 23 points. Jimmy Butler (22 points) is getting his, but everyone else on the Heat has combined to shoot 14-for-38 from the field to this point.

End of second quarter: Celtics 70, Heat 45

9:45 p.m. — Well, that was a dominant first half from the Celtics. Led by 20 points from Jayson Tatum, 15 points from Jaylen Brown and 12 points from Grant Williams, they lead by ... 25 going into the break. 

9:33 p.m. — Bad news for the Heat: Boston is 32-1 this season when leading by 20 or more points, according to NBA.com's John Schuhmann. The Celtics have won 23 straight such games.

9:29 p.m. — Goodness. A Jayson Tatum dunk puts the Celtics up by 21 points, their largest lead of the game. This is getting out of hand for the Heat.

9:24 p.m. — Robert Williams is flexing his defensive muscles to start the second quarter.

First, this block:

Then, this steal:

He's a problem around the basket.

End of first quarter: Celtics 35, Heat 24

9:10 p.m. — The Celtics close the first quarter on a 20-3 run. They're 9-for-11 from 3-point range to start this one.

9:07 p.m. — Foul or no foul? 🤔

9:04 p.m. — The Heat have cooled off offensively and the Celtics are taking advantage. Eight unanswered points for Boston give it a 23-21, leading to Miami timeout.

9:01 p.m. — Uh oh. Jayson Tatum picks up his second foul of the game with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter. Payton Pritchard's coming in for him.

8:52 p.m. — The Heat have picked up where they left off, jumping out to a 15-8 lead. P.J. Tucker, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent have each knocked down a 3-pointer, and Jimmy Butler has scored four quick points to go along with two assists.

8:12 p.m. — Al Horford and Marcus Smart are both available and will start for the Celtics.

3:30 p.m. — Al Horford (health and safety protocols) is listed as available, but the Celtics will be without Derrick White (personal reasons) for Game 2. 

Celtics vs. Heat schedule, results

Here is the full schedule for the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.

Date Game Time (ET) / Result
May 17 Game 1 Heat 118, Celtics 107
May 19 Game 2 Celtics 127, Heat 102
May 21 Game 3 8:30 p.m.
May 23 Game 4 8:30 p.m.
May 25 Game 5* 8:30 p.m.
May 27 Game 6* 8:30 p.m.
May 29 Game 7* 8:30 p.m.

*If necessary

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.