(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics headed into the NBA playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference and arguably the favorite to go the distance and represent the conference in the NBA Finals.
Although the Miami Heat had to get through the Play-In Tournament to make it to the NBA playoffs to face the Celtics, Jimmy Butler and company are also a threat in the postseason, but this time around, Boston doesn’t have to contend with the Heat superstar who is injured.
Without Butler on the floor to start this first-round series, the Celtics made easy work of the Heat on Sunday to win Game 1, which former Celtics superstar Kevin Garnett believes was a statement by Boston.
“Lookin like the C’s came out to put a foot on neck and make a statement … no confidence will be allowed,” he tweeted.
Lookin like the C’s came out to put a foot on neck and make a statement … no confidence will be allowed #NBAPlayoffs #Celtics
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) April 21, 2024
The Celtics beat the Heat in convincing fashion on Sunday, beating their rivals by 20, with Miami sorely missing their undisputed leader, as Bam Adebayo was unable to do enough to even make this game competitive.
As for Jayson Tatum, the current face of the Celtics franchise had a triple-double, with the rising star dropping 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals.
Six Celtics players scored in double figures on Sunday, with Derrick White chipping in with 20, Kristaps Porzingis adding 18, Jaylen Brown contributing with 17, and Al Horford (10) and Sam Hauser (12) helping off the bench.
With the Celtics making a statement in Game 1, the Heat could be looking at a very tough stretch over the next three games, as a sweep seems highly likely unless Butler can figure out a way to come back and be impactful on the floor.
The post Kevin Garnett Reacts To Celtics’ Playoff Win Over Heat appeared first on The Cold Wire.