MIAMI (AP) — Marcus Smart was a gametime decision after missing the opener of the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals with a sprained foot. He was a major contributor on Thursday as the Boston Celtics clobbered the Heat, 127-102 in Miami to tie the series at a game apiece.
Smart was a rebound shy of a triple-double, finishing with 24 points on 8 of 22 shooting and dishing out 12 assists. He also was 5 of 12 from downtown as the Celtics drained 20 of their 40 3-point attempts.
Jayson Tatum had a team-high 27 points for Boston, which led by 25 at halftime. Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points and Grant Williams had 19.
Heat forward Jimmy followed his 41-point performance in the opener by scoring 29 on Thursday, but the rest of Miami’s starters added just 31.
The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Saturday.
Kupchak staying with Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak has signed a multiyear contract extension about six weeks before his contract was set to expire. Kupchak will continue to lead the team’s search for a coach, saying the team already has interviewed eight to 10 candidates and could speak with a few more over the next week or so.
