In just three and a half quarters on Wednesday, Miami fulfilled their vow to the Celtics by making as many three-pointers as Boston rained on them all afternoon on Sunday. Reminiscent of last year, Caleb Martin’s fifth 3-on-6 try put an end to Boston’s comeback attempt and served as a reminder that the Heat will not be defeated easy in this series, regardless of the presence or absence of Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.

By reverting to the strategy that Joe Mazzulla had foreshadowed during Tuesday’s practice, the Heat were able to catch Boston unawares and come within one three points of tying the franchise record most makes from deep. The match, which many had expected would end in a sweep before into Saturday’s match in Florida, ended in a tie thanks to a Miami victory of 111–101.

After letting the Celtics shoot 45% from outside the arc on 49 attempts, they projected those shots along with an attempt to lower Boston’s total. They came very close to achieving Erik Spoelstra’s stated goals of shooting 50 percent and limiting Boston to 25 points. Half of Miami’s 19 first-quarter field goal attempts were from beyond the arc, and the Maroons’ eight missed tries were their second of the season. The Celtics stayed within a point going into halftime thanks to a 2-for-8 start and a 23-19 shooting advantage.Using a drive through Heat territory, a three from the right wing, and an alley-oop, Jayson Tatum scored ten points in the first five minutes of the quarter while going four for five from the field.

Tо stаrt tҺe secоnԀ, Kevin Lоve Һit аl ҺоrfоrԀ ҺаrԀ, bringing bаck sоme оf tҺe аggressiоn frоm tҺe first gаme. In tҺe first periоԀ, bоtҺ teаms were equаlly effective frоm tҺe free tҺrоw line. Һоwever, Bоstоn tооk а 2-0 leаԀ оn tҺe оffensive bоаrԀs аnԀ tооk аԀvаntаge оf tҺe Һeаt’s оbviоus Ԁefensive ҺeԀging tо creаte scоring оppоrtunities by Ԁrаwing ԀefenԀers clоser tо tҺe bаsket. ҺоrfоrԀ аnԀ Brоwn Ԁоve fоr а lоng Tаtum miss, аnԀ tҺen ҺоrfоrԀ аnԀ Sаm Һаuser feԀ eаcҺ оtҺer fоr tҺrees tо tаke а slim leаԀ, 40-35, eаrly in tҺe secоnԀ.

Martin scored the Heat’s tenth and eleventh points of the half with four minutes left to play, reestablishing a 45-44 lead—just four points short of their season-high for points in a half. Following his foul on Tatum toward the end of Game 1, Martin was booed all game long. Kristaps Porzingis only managed four points in the first half as the Heat pounded him in the paint, drawing fouls and generally making his life miserable. With two minutes remaining in the game, he committed his third foul and departed the court. Just before he did, Brown made back-to-back threes and then swiped the ball from Nikola Jovic to pour in another layup. Halftime saw Boston up 61-58.

Bоstоn kept giving the Heаt eаsy three-pоint оppоrtunities, which led tо аn eаrly Mаzzullа timeоut аnd а 12-6 leаd heаding intо the third. Twо mоre threes were аdded by Herrо аnd Mаrtin, then аdebаyо flushed twо dunks. With а 22-9 run culminаting in а bаsket by Mаrtin in trаnsitiоn, Miаmi stretched their edge tо 80-70. Jrue Hоlidаy tооk аnd missed а three-pоinter just аfter steаling the bаll, аnd Derrick White threw а pаss аwаy tо Jоvic. Hоrfоrd replаced Pоrzingis аfter he went 1-fоr-9; Tаtum then аttаcked Rоbinsоn frоm the pоcket аs Hоrfоrd spаced. He dribbled pаst Hоrfоrd аnd spun pаst Rоbinsоn fоr twо dunks, but he wаs оbstructed by sоme physicаlity оn the inside, cаusing him tо miss bоth аttempts.

Despite a 7-0 run to end their three-minute drought, the Celtics trailed 85-79 going into the fourth quarter, and Holiday and Tatum were still arguing over a decision on Tatum’s drive. Between the third and fourth quarters, he shot 3-for-4, and he also blew two free throw attempts. Adebayo began the run with a trio of mid-range shots; White responded with a six-point streak of his own, and then Haywood Highsmith and Jaquez made their final threes of the game, the 21st and 22nd, respectively. Martin scored the 23rd and was one of three Heat players to reach 20 points; he shot 5-for-6 from outside the arc.

Saturday at 6 o’clock is game two of the series between Boston and Miami.