SI.com: Can Boston stand the Heat?
One of only a few Celtic highlights: Boston's Jeff Green blocks Miami's Mario Chalmers' shot Sunday in the NBA playoffs.
May 2nd, 2011
04:03 PM ET

SI.com: Can Boston stand the Heat?

By the end of Sunday night's game against the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics were left in tatters, facing a 99-90 Game 1 loss. While Boston suffered a significant blow when Paul Pierce was ejected from the game after receiving two technicals in a span of less than one minute, that was the lesser of the Celtics' problems. As SI.com's Ian Thomsen explains, the Celtics crumbled under the pressure and lacked cohesiveness, all while the Heat found its stride atop an impressive 38-point showing by Dwyane Wade.

"Wade and Jones (25 efficient points) had dumped the Celtics in a deep 87-74 hole at the time of Pierce's ensuing run-in with Wade, which makes Pierce's ejection less the cause and more a symptom of Boston's opening-game downfall," writes Thomsen. "Wade was running the baseline defensively when he bore through a Pierce screen. Referee Ed Malloy instantly called double technicals on both stars, and then pointed Pierce to the locker room."

Having lost to the Heat twice within the last month, the Celtics will enter Tuesday's Game 2 match-up with something to prove. Their lackluster performance Sunday may light the fire the team and Pierce needs to avoid rookie mistakes and charge back into this series. Or could Game 1 be just a sign of things to come?

Up tonight:

Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls (8:00 p.m., TNT)

Dallas Mavericks vs. L.A. Lakers (10:30 p.m., TNT)

By The Numbers

13 - Number of consecutive games the Cleveland Indians have won at home. Their 13th victory came against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday.

5 - Number of titles tennis star Novak Djokovic has won this season. His fifth title at the Serbia Open also marked his 27th straight victory.

76 - Number of first place votes NBA Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau received this year.

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Filed under: Baseball • LeBron James • NBA • Sports
soundoff (11 Responses)
  1. Tommy Jonq

    Dear CNN: Nobody cares about this meaningless story. People are celebrating love, life and happiness in the aftermath of Bin Laden's death.

    May 2, 2011 at 5:36 pm | Report abuse |
    • Rastlin

      You cared enough to read it and leave a post...tool.

      May 2, 2011 at 8:57 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Lucifer

    I invented hoops too!

    May 2, 2011 at 6:19 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Rastlin

    I like lebron because I want to gobble his shlong. I like big black tools in my poop chute!

    May 2, 2011 at 9:32 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Basketball Fan

    Actually we all have a thing for black pipe. If you look at the court it's clearly painted with 2 opposing "members".. All sports are pretty hom-o-ero-tic. Why do you think they sell hot dogs and stuff there? Mmmm... Sausage!

    May 3, 2011 at 12:18 am | Report abuse |
  5. Lucifer

    @Basketball Fan: Hey quit taking the blinders off the sheep! You're going to affect my revenue stream.

    May 3, 2011 at 12:38 am | Report abuse |
  6. ?

    @Lucifer....
    You're post are cracking me up!

    May 3, 2011 at 2:03 am | Report abuse |
  7. ?

    EDIT;
    @Lucifer...
    YOUR posts are cracking me up!

    May 3, 2011 at 2:07 am | Report abuse |
  8. countryboy

    They lost they lost. http://WWW.CDBABY.COM/ALL/NUMONE bye now!

    May 3, 2011 at 7:31 am | Report abuse |
  9. Lucky

    As long as paul pierce dont get kicked out the game again thanks to the petty flagrant and technical foul calls the refs want to call everytime players argue WHAT PART OF ITS THE PLAYOFFS DONT THE REFS UNDERSTAND LET THEM PLAY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

    May 3, 2011 at 5:39 pm | Report abuse |
  10. kim

    like it basketboll

    June 6, 2011 at 4:10 am | Report abuse |
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