MIAMI -- Jimmy Butler scored 41 points, and the Miami Heat turned things around with a huge third quarter on the way to beating the short-handed Boston Celtics 118-107 in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night.
Tyler Herro scored 18 and Gabe Vincent added 17 for the Heat, who outscored Boston 39-14 in the third quarter. Butler had 17 alone in the third, outscoring the Celtics by himself over those 12 minutes.
Max Strus scored 11 and Bam Adebayo added 10 for Miami.
Jayson Tatum scored 29 for the Celtics, who were without starters Marcus Smart (foot) and Al Horford (health and safety protocols). Jaylen Brown added 24 for Boston, which got 18 apiece from Robert Williams III and Payton Pritchard.
Game 2 is Thursday.
Boston led by 13 in the first half and took a 62-54 lead into halftime. Whatever Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said during intermission clearly worked.
A 22-2 run was how Miami started the second half, the run punctuated by steals that led to baskets on three consecutive possessions. Strus had one, the next two by Butler pushed the lead out to 76-64, and the Heat were off and running.
The lead reached 96-76 when Herro was fouled on a three-point try and made all three free throws early in the fourth.
Boston had a run left; a 10-0 spurt cut the deficit in half, and a three-pointer from Tatum made it a nine-point game -- outcome still very much in doubt -- with 7:35 left.
But the Heat had a response. PJ Tucker answered Tatum's three with one of his own. Brown then connected from deep to get Boston within single digits again, only to have that one answered by a three from Strus.
Some of the plans that both sides had for Game 1 were thrown away about 3 ½ hours before game time, when the Celtics revealed that Smart and Horford wouldn't be playing. Smart's absence was somewhat expected because of a mid-foot sprain he suffered in Game 7 of the East semifinals against Milwaukee on Sunday.
Horford's absence, however, was a surprise.
He entered the league's health and safety protocols Tuesday afternoon, which ruled him out of Game 1 and quite possibly could keep him out for multiple games going forward. And it's not clear if any other Celtics could need testing.
"I'm honestly unsure about that as of now," Celtics Coach Ime Udoka said pregame.
Boston's biggest lead was 13 points. The Celtics are now 46-7 this season in games in which it led by at least that many
Boston has dropped 17 of its last 26 East finals games.
The 25-point differential in the third quarter was the second-best for the Heat and the second-worst for the Celtics this season. Miami outscored Charlotte by 27 in the third quarter on Feb. 5. Boston was outscored by 28 points in the fourth quarter by Chicago on Nov. 1.
Boston didn't have a field goal in the first six minutes of the second half -- the slowest start to a half in any of the Celtics' 94 games this season.
Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) attempt to block a pass by Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra gestures during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boston Celtics forward Aaron Nesmith (26) blocks a shot to the basket by Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka speaks to Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) blocks a shot to the basket by Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) runs into Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra gestures during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)