MIAMI — Wednesday evening, the Boston Celtics achieved an unparalleled first quarter in their illustrious history, netting 53 points within the initial 12 minutes of their 147-129 triumph against the Miami Heat.
This marked the second-most prolific first quarter in NBA regular-season annals. Only the Golden State Warriors’ 55-point commencing period against Portland on April 9, 2023, surpassed it, while Miami itself recorded a 53-point opening quarter versus Charlotte on Nov. 7.
Celtics luminary Jaylen Brown remarked, “Penetrating the lane, reaching the hoop, and completing plays – I believe that served as the primary driver.”
Boston’s 147 points equaled its second-highest tally ever in an away game throughout the squad’s annals. Furthermore, it represented the highest point total the Heat have ever surrendered on their home court.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla commented, “I felt we performed quite admirably. There are instances where excellent execution leads to a sequence of quality shots; it simply unfolds naturally. Typically, when you’re experiencing such moments and start to gain confidence, you tend to take inferior shots. We avoided that. We persisted in seeking a favorable look, then the next-best optimal opportunity, and I believe that helped maintain the impetus somewhat.”
Boston held a commanding 53-33 lead at the conclusion of the period, achieving a remarkable 20-for-28 shooting from the field and 11-for-15 from beyond the arc.
This 53-point quarter’s point total represented the Celtics’ second-greatest sum in any single quarter, trailing only the 54 points they amassed in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Clippers on Feb. 25, 1970. Furthermore, it constituted the most points Miami has ever surrendered in a single quarter, surpassing the 50 points they conceded in the fourth quarter of a game in Seattle on Jan. 5, 1990.
Sam Hauser tallied 17 points, achieving an unblemished 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, having played the entire 12 minutes of the initial quarter. Brown personally contributed 20 points within that quarter – marking the ninth instance of a 20-point quarter in his professional tenure, encompassing playoff contests.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stated, “This might seem improbable, but this situation is distinct from the other games we’ve discussed. Our guys were focused and battling. There was an extraordinary caliber of shot execution from [Boston] at the commencement of the match.”
Brown concluded with 43 points, while Jayson Tatum amassed a 28-point, 18-rebound, 11-assist triple-double – his debut for the current season, following his recuperation from an Achilles tendon rupture sustained during last season’s playoffs, which caused him to miss a significant portion of the ongoing campaign.
Tatum currently boasts 83 points, 35 rebounds, and 24 assists over his recent trio of matches. The last Celtics player to achieve such statistics within a three-game span was Larry Bird, back in April 1990.
Tatum remarked, “It was simply superior shot execution from each side of the court.”
Data sourced from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was incorporated into this dispatch.