Celtics overcome slow start to freeze Heat

Jayson Tatum tossed in a game-high 33 points to help the Boston Celtics extend their road winning streak to six games by beating the Miami Heat 103-85 on Monday night.

Tatum, who missed his first five shots, scored 20 points in the third quarter. He was 13 of 26 from the floor and also collected eight rebounds.

Al Horford added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, which received 17 points and nine rebounds from Kristaps Porzingis, 15 points from Sam Hauser and 13 points from Derrick White.

Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Alec Burks (13 points), Andrew Wiggins (11) and Nikola Jovic (10) were the other Miami players in double figures.

Boston trailed by 11 early before improving its road record to 22-6.

The Celtics played without Jaylen Brown (knee) and Jrue Holiday (shoulder). Miami was missing Jaime Jaquez and Tyler Herro (both with illness).

Boston missed 14 of its first 15 3-point attempts, but finished 17 of 53 from behind the 3-point arc. Miami was 11 of 45 on 3-point attempts.

The Celtics were 2 of 18 from 3-point range in the opening 12 minutes and trailed 24-18 after one quarter, but they used an 18-0 run to take a 31-24 lead in the second. Miami was scoreless for a 6:38 stretch spanning the first two quarters before Jovic made a 3-pointer with 8:35 left before halftime.

Boston outscored Miami 34-19 in the second and led 52-43 at the half. The Heat shot 31.2 percent from the field in the first half.

The Celtics led by 20 after Tatum made a free throw with 30.2 seconds left in the third, and had an 88-65 advantage heading into the fourth. Boston led by as many as 24 in the final quarter.

The Celtics improved to 2-0 against the Heat this season. Boston prevailed 108-89 at home on Dec. 2.

--Field Level Media