Not Enough Game

For those who watched the game, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals was not a good one for the Boston Celtics:

Celtics were game, but without Marcus Smart and Al Horford, they didn’t have enough against Heat in opener

MIAMI — Opening night of the Eastern Conference finals got off to a rotten start for the Celtics.

No Marcus Smart (bruised foot). Then, without warning, no Al Horford (health and safety protocol).

Losing Smart and Horford against the rested, top-seeded Heat made Tuesday’s Game 1 feel like climbing Kilimanjaro for a Celtic team that just survived seven smashmouth playoff games against the defending world champs. The shorthanded Celts were forced to go back to work only two days after gutting the Bucks on Causeway Street.

Boston got it done early, taking a 13-point first half lead, but Miami wore down the exhausted Celts at the start of the third with a Jimmy Butler-led, 22-2 run en route to a 118-107 win. Game 2 is Thursday at FTX Arena.

More game recap and some quotes from there.