5 Takeaways As Miami Heat Stun Boston Celtics in Game 2

• Miami Heat stunned the Boston Celtics in game 2 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals
• Jimmy Butler came up clutch in the fourth quarter, motivated by Grant Williams trash talk
• The series shifts back to Miami, and the Heat will look to cause another upset

The Miami Heat took another step towards the 2023 NBA Finals as they stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Heat won Game 2 111-105 to take a commanding 2-0 lead and will have the chance to close the series, which shifts to Miami.

The Celtics suffered another fourth-quarter collapse, squandering a solid lead. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown struggled in the final frame leaving the Celtics in a precarious situation.

For the Heat, it was another superb performance. Jimmy Butler showed why he is the best player in the playoffs after producing another epic performance, especially in the fourth quarter. He finished with a team-high 27 points.

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5 takeaways from Celtics vs. Heat Game 2

5. Grant Williams 'pokes the bear'

A few questions were raised after Grant Williams failed to play a single minute in Game 1. However, one change Joe Mazzulla made was to play the forward more. He did well and was +15 in his first five minutes of action. He played 26 minutes and scored nine points, per CBS Sports.

Nevertheless, he will be remembered for "poking the bear" and provoking Jimmy Butler in the fourth quarter. After knocking down a 3-pointer, Williams chose to bark at Butler. The Heat stars responded by scoring on Williams and drawing a foul. The two clashed again and had to be separated before getting hit with technicals. After Williams's three-pointer, the Heat went on a 24-9 run, with Butler scoring nine himself. That run sealed the game for the visitors.

4. Robinson and Martin step up

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Butler and Bam Adebayo were great in Game 2. However, they would lose that game were it not for the contribution of Caleb Martin and Duncan Robinson. Martin (25 points) and Robinson (15) combined for 40 points and outscored Celtics' bench by themselves. They shot a combined 17-of-25 from the field, including six threes combined.

They will need to produce these kinds of performances, especially if Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry fail to turn up.

3. A quiet fourth quarter from Tatum

Looking at the box score, Jayson Tatum clearly had a good game. He finished with 34 points on 10-of-20 shooting while grabbing 12 boards and dishing eight assists. Game 2 was the second straight game that the All-Star game MVP was held without a field goal. He finished with five points, all from the line. The Celtics will need more production from Tatum in the final frame in the upcoming games, per NBC Sports.

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The Heat's defense did great to stymie one of the best players in the NBA in the fourth quarter.

2. Jaylen Brown poor

Jaylen Brown produced a poor performance in Game 2. He went 7-for-23 from the field and 1-for-7 from deep with 16 points and two turnovers. He also struggled defensively against Heat reserves Martin and Robinson.

As the Celtics stare at a 0-2 series deficit, Brown has to be on fire in the next few games or risk going out early in the conference finals, per Boston.com.

1. 'Playoff Jimmy'

Butler was having an okay game before the confrontation with Williams. That back and forth spurred Butler, who finished with 27 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

The 33-year-old has scored at least 25 points in 10 of the 12 games he has played in this playoffs so far. He is averaging 31.1 points per game so far in the 2023 playoffs, per Sporting News.

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Bam Adebayo also scored 22 points, 17 rebounds, and nine assists. He had eight points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the fourth quarter, per ESPN.

The pressure is on the Celtics, who now have an uphill battle as the series shifts back to Miami.

Butler punishes Williams, and Celtics

Sports Brief earlier reported on Butler stepping up after Williams trash-talked him.

Many placed the blame on Williams, who talked trash to Butler after draining a three that gave the Celtics a 96-87 lead with 6:37 remaining.

Poking the bear proved to be a bad decision for Williams, as Butler and the Heat closed the game on a 24-9 run to steal another win on the road.