NBA Kickoff: Celtics Feel the Afterburn: Heat Win Season Opener
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The NBA kick off featured an old rival match between
champion Miami Heat and Boston Celtics at American Airlines Arena in Miami. The
first nineteen points of the game started as a three point shootout between
both teams with the Heat leading 10-9. Miami got two three’s from Shane
Battier, while Boston got three’s from Courtney Lee and Paul Pierce early in
the game.
Dwayne Wade was off to a slow start missing his first three
field goal attempts of the game plus a turnover, but things picked up for him
into the middle of the first quarter and he ended the first half with 16 points
on 7 of 14 shooting from the field.
Ray Allen made his season debut as a Miami Heat guard versus
his old team where he and Kevin Garnett joined Paul Pierce in Boston to form
the Big Three in 2007. Allen checked into the game for Miami with 2:45
remaining in the first quarter. With an assist from Norris Cole, Allen made
his first three pointer of the season with the Heat on a buzzer beater with
1:44 left in the first. He shot 66 percent from trey land on 2-3 shooting in
the first half. Rashard Lewis, also in his first season with Miami and known for
his three- point shooting, chipped in his first three points with about 11:15
remaining in the second quarter.
Paul Pierce led Boston at the half with 16, while Jason
Terry contributed 8 points off the bench. Lebron James led the Heat with 16 points, 9 boards, 2
assists and 2 steals for Miami at halftime, while Wade and Allen had 13.
Miami took full control of the second half. Boston struggled
to keep up with the Heat as they were outscored by nine at the end of the
third. Miami led 93-76 at the start of the fourth. The Heat faculty scored a
solid 31 total points in each of the first three quarters.
Boston Celtics made a comeback as they outscored the Heat in
the fourth quarter, but they still trailed. Boston didn’t get any production
from Kevin Garnett until the last quarter. By then, it was too late
for him and the Celtics to pull off a victory. Miami had too much ammunition as they
shot 50 percent from three point range for the entire game. Boston failed to
connect on some easy shots late in the fourth after they trimmed Miami’s lead by
8 points with Heat leading 109-101.
Chris Bosh added his presence especially in
the fourth quarter by being consistent with consecutive buckets in the hole. He
finished with 19 points. Wade finished with 29, Allen, 19, James 26, Lewis 10.
Paul Pierce finished with 23 points for Boston. Rondo added
20 points and 13 assists.
Heat opened their season with a 120-107 victory. Their next
game is Friday, November 2 at New York Knicks
Nate Gray
@nategrayzone
Facebook: NateGrayZone
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