Jayson Tatum Reflects on Celtics Game 2 Collapse Against Heat

• The Boston Celtics collapsed in Game 2 against the Miami Heat to go 0-2 down in the Eastern Conference finals
• Despite having a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, they threw it away, allowing the Heat to go on a game-ending run
• The series shifts back to Miami

The Boston Celtics are in a precarious position after going 0-2 down in the Eastern Conference final against the Miami Heat.

The Heat won Game 2 111-105, but the Celtics will have themselves to blame as they blew another double-digit lead, leaving them with an uphill battle as the series shifts back to Miami.

The 17-time NBA champions had a 12-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but they let it slip away, leaving them to rue another missed opportunity.

After Grant Williams' dunk with about 4 minutes remaining, the Celtics did not make a field goal the rest of the game. They missed their final four shots and committed two turnovers.

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The hosts allowed Miami to go on a 24-9 run in the final 6 minutes and 37 seconds. Jimmy Butler scored nine of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, while Bam Adebayo, who finished with 22 points, 17 rebounds, and nine assists -- had eight points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the final frame, per the Athletic.

Celtics react to disappointing Game 2

Joe Mazzulla's side were led by 34 points from Jayson Tatum, who did not score a field goal in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown added 16 points but shot 7-of-23. Their 15 turnovers resulted in 20 points for the Heat. Tatum explained what needs to happen when they have a solid lead.

"We got to execute better...So those plays right when we're up 12, when we could go up 15, 16 ... they go on an 8-0 run and now it's at four, and now the momentum has shifted. So we've been up and we got to do a better job of making those, I would call them winning plays, in those situations," via ESPN.

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Brown said they have to be calm in certain situations.

"I think we get sped up at times. Two, we just play basketball. In those moments we got to come alive. It seems like we let the game slip away from us when we are in those situations."

The Heat are the first road team to win the first two games of a playoff series since Dallas won the opening two games over the Clippers in the first round in 2021.

Celtics vs. Heat Game 2 takeaways

Sports Brief earlier looked at the major talking points from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The major takeaway was the confrontation between Butler and Williams.

Another big talking point was Caleb Martin (25) and Duncan Robinson (15) stepping up from the bench. They combined for 40 points.