Heat Let Lead Slip, Fall To Celtics 101-89
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BOSTON (The Sports Xchange) -- Marcus Smart scored eight of his team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter to power the Boston Celtics to their 10th consecutive home victory with a 101-89 win over the Miami Heat in a Saturday matinee at TD Garden.
The second-year guard was one of six double-digit scorers for Boston (35-25), which is now one win shy of tying its longest home winning streak since the 2012-13 season.
Celtics forward Jared Sullinger had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, forward Jae Crowder scored 14 points, and swingman Evan Turner had 14 points and nine assists off the bench.
Heat guard Goran Dragic had a team-high 21 points, guard Dwyane Wade added 19 points, and center Hassan Whiteside finished two blocks shy of a triple-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds off the bench.
Miami forward Luol Deng also logged a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards.
Miami (32-26) held a lead for the majority of the opening half but fell behind by six twice in the third quarter before Whiteside's tip-in brought the Heat within 72-70 entering the fourth.
The Celtics outscored the Heat 29-19 in the final 12 minutes to take the victory.
Miami and Boston were a combined 5 of 16 from the floor to open the afternoon, but the Heat scored 12 of the next 18 points to open up an early 12-point lead.
Despite missing eight of their first nine shots, the Celtics were within 26-18 after one quarter.
Turner had seven of his team's first 15 points -- including a highlight-reel dunk -- and scored nine in the second to help Boston take a pair of one-point leads halfway through the period.
Wade's jumper put Miami back up with 6:47 before the break, and the Heat led by as many as six down the stretch before settling for a 49-46 halftime edge.
Dragic scored 10 points in the half to pace the Heat while Tuner had 11 for the Celtics.
Thomas missed all eight of his first-half attempts and entered the break with one point.
NOTES: F/G Joe Johnson will reportedly sign with Miami after clearing waivers on Saturday evening. Johnson, a seven-time All-Star drafted by Boston with the No. 10 overall pick in 2001, was waived by the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. ... Heat F Udonis Haslem (allergic reaction) did not practice Friday but was available Saturday following an adverse reaction to a substance he put in his hair. ... Miami F Luol Deng played his 800th career game Saturday. ... Celtics F Jonas Jerebko (sore left ankle) was available after missing the end of Friday's practice. ... Boston F Kelly Olynyk (right shoulder sprain) said there is no change to his timetable for return. "It's getting better slowly but surely," Olynyk said. ... Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge attended Saturday's college hoops game between Arizona and Utah in Salt Lake City. ... Miami visits the New York Knicks on Sunday. Boston hosts the Utah Jazz on Monday.
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