Boston Celtics hit 53 first-quarter points in huge win over Miami Heat
The Boston Celtics scored an incredible 53 points in the first quarter to set up a comprehensive 147-129 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
The historic opening-period haul was the second-highest in NBA regular-season history, falling just two points shy of the Golden State Warriors’ record set in 2023.
Boston’s staggering 147-point total also tied their franchise record for the second-most points scored in an away fixture.
Brown and Tatum dominate proceedings
The visitors were spearheaded by phenomenal performances from their star duo, with Jaylen Brown erupting for 43 points on the night.
The dynamic guard scored 20 of his points during that blistering opening 12 minutes, marking the ninth 20-point quarter of his professional career.
Jayson Tatum was equally instrumental for the Massachusetts outfit, recording his first triple-double of the season with 28 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists.
The talismanic forward has missed a significant portion of the current campaign while recovering from a devastating Achilles tendon tear suffered during last year’s playoffs.
Record-breaking returns
His recent prolific output sees him join franchise legend Larry Bird as the only other player in team history to tally 83 points, 35 rebounds, and 24 assists over a three-game span.
The phenomenal start was fuelled by incredible perimeter shooting, as the team sank 11 of their 15 attempts from three-point range before the first buzzer.
Sam Hauser was vital in establishing the early dominance, draining all five of his deep attempts while playing the entire opening period.
“Getting to the paint, getting to the basket and finishing, I think that was the catalyst,” explained Brown.
‘Exceptional level of shot-making’
Head coach Joe Mazzulla praised his squad’s relentless execution and discipline in hunting for the best possible scoring opportunities.
“Usually when you’re in moments like that and you start to feel it, you take poor shots, but we didn’t do that,” Mazzulla noted.
The defensive collapse marked the most points the Heat have ever allowed in a single quarter, surpassing an unwanted franchise record from 1990.
“Our guys were locked in and competing, but there was an exceptional level of shot-making on Boston’s part to start the game,” admitted Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.