The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat had a rivalry to be reckoned with over the better part of the 2010s and early 2020s.

Both teams had a “Big Three” in Boston’s Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, and Miami’s Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh. The perennial foes faced off in four Eastern Conference Finals from 2012 to 2023.

But all that seems like ancient history today. Because for Boston, Monday night’s 103-85 victory in South Beach marked the fifth straight game — including last year’s playoffs — that the Celtics have bested Miami, and the fifth straight time that victory has come by at least 18 points.

“Against a team like Boston, you have to execute with intention and purpose,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the game. “Otherwise, they can flatten you out with their switches or with just their size at the rim.”

And flatten Miami they did. After a slow start that saw the Celtics trailing by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, the visiting team simply went off. Boston, led by a 33-point effort from All-Star starter Jayson Tatum, who shot an impressive 45.9% from the field — including 17 three-pointers — on its way to its sixth win in its last seven games.

Celtics
Jayson Tatum scored 20 of his game-high 33 points in the third quarter.

Tatum Time

Tatum, who two days earlier netted 40 points in a win over the Knicks, scored just two points in the first half before exploding for 20 in the third quarter. The 20-point frame one-upped his 19-point third quarter Saturday in New York.

“I didn’t play that well in the first half, so I was just trying to get myself going and get myself some energy,” Tatum, who also pulled down eight rebounds, told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after the game. “I started rolling, and I felt good after that.”

All five Celtics starters finished in double figures in a game where Jrue Holiday (shoulder) and Jaylen Brown (knee) were sidelined with injuries. Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and nine rebounds for Boston, followed by Al Horford (16 points, 10 rebounds), Sam Hauser (15 points, five three-pointers), and Derrick White (13 points, seven assists).

Trouble In Paradise

Miami, on the other hand, was historically bad.

The Heat, who were without Tyler Herro and Jamie Jaquez, Jr., due to illness, were held to a dismal 33.7% shooting from the floor, marking just the 69th time in franchise history the team has been held below 35% in a game. Miami is 2-67 in those contests.

Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 22 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Andrew Wiggins with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Miami newcomers Davion Mitchell and Kyle Anderson acquired in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State, shot a combined 2-for-13.

What’s Next For The Celtics & Heat?

Miami has a tall task ahead of itself in trying to snap its two-game skid. The Heat (25-26) travel to Oklahoma City on Wednesday to take on a Thunder (43-9) team that currently sits atop the Western Conference standings.

Meanwhile, the Celtics will try and win their third straight game Wednesday when it welcomes San Antonio to the TD Garden. The Spurs (23-28) head into the game fresh off a 131-point outing in a win over the Wizards.

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