The Boston Celtics (35 - 25) defeated the Miami Heat (32 - 26) 101 - 89, Saturday afternoon at TD Garden. This clash of top Eastern teams featured Miami's top - five defense, which holds opponents to an average of 97 points per game versus Boston's top - five offense, which scores an average of 106 points per game, including 118 over their last seven. Boston had the advantage at home, where they have now won 10 in a row and boast a record of 19 - 10. The Heat now sit two games behind the third place Celtics and have gone 3 - 2 in their last five games. The Celtics only hit 40 percent of their shots but supplemented that by hitting 18 - 22 free throws and forcing 20 Miami turnovers. They also moved the ball very well, leading to 26 assists on 39 field goals. Nine players logged 19 or more minutes for Boston and six of them scored in double digits, while adding at least two rebounds or assists. Marcus Smart led the team in scoring with 15 points (5 - 9 FG, 1 - 2 3Pt, 4 - 5 FT), six rebounds and three assists, in 27 minutes off the bench. Jared Sullinger double - doubled with 12 points (5 - 13 FG, 2 - 2 FT) and 12 rebounds, along with four assists, three blocks and two steals, in 24 minutes. Evan Turner also filled the stat line with 14 points (6 - 12 FG, 2 - 3 FT), nine assists, six rebounds and one steal, in 28 minutes. The Heat got out to a quick start but could not hang on. They held the Celtics, who have averaged 118 points over their last seven games, to only 101 in this one by rebounding, blocking and contesting shots and holding the Celtics to 40 percent from the field. However, Miami could not find the offense it needed to win. Goran Dragic led the way in scoring with 21 points (9 - 15 FG, 1 - 4 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT), along with five rebounds and five assists, in 34 minutes. Dwyane Wade chipped in 19 points (7 - 19 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 5 - 7 FT), five rebounds and three assists, in 33 minutes, while Hassan Whiteside tallied a double - double in 32 minutes off the bench, with 13 points (5 - 9 FG, 3 - 3 FT) and 15 rebounds, along with an emphatic eight blocks. The Heat will head straight to New York, where they take on the Knicks on Sunday. The Celtics host the Jazz on Monday.
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