Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat now have a two game lead over the Boston Celtics in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
The Celtics headed into the Eastern Conference Finals with homecourt advantage as the no. 2 seed in the East. But it was the no. 8 seed Heat who came out on top at TD Garden in Boston.
The Heat defeated the Celtics 123-116 in the first game of the finals on Wednesday, May 17. On Friday night, it looked like Celtics might get a game back after the 3rd quarter. But an impressive fourth quarter from the Heat thwarted the Celtics’ attempt to save face at home. The game finished with an 111-105 victory to the Heat.
The Heat will now head back to Miami with a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Spoelstra was praised for his tactical decision making in the fourth quarter. During the post-game press conference, he shifted attention away from his tactics and told reporters these games are about doing the “tough things.”
“When you play against great teams, you just have to do whatever is necessary. It’s not about the schematics or the Xs and Os. But if you’re not committed to doing tough things — that’s what this is about, doing tough things,” Spoelstra said, according to the Miami Herald.
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