Celtics Stay Perfect, Heat Score 144 in NBA Preseason Finals

Two finals led the NBA preseason board on Wednesday night, and both were routs. The Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets 114-93 at TD Garden to stay perfect in the preseason, and the Miami Heat outran the Brooklyn Nets 144-128 in Miami.

Celtics 114, Hornets 93

Boston controlled this one with the ball, or rather without giving it away. The Celtics turned the ball over just 11 times. Charlotte gave it away 30 times, and a game that was competitive in stretches broke open for good in the fourth quarter, which Boston won 29-16.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics in nearly everything: a game high 19 points in 29 minutes, plus a game high 8 rebounds. Derrick White added 17 points in 19 minutes and a game high 4 steals. First year Celtic Mitchell Robinson was perfect from the field, finishing with 12 points, 7 rebounds and a game high 3 blocks.

Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 16 points and 5 rebounds in 27 minutes. The win moves Boston to 3-0 in preseason play. The Celtics close the preseason on Friday at Philadelphia, where a win would complete a 4-0 run.

Heat 144, Nets 128

Miami and Brooklyn played the opposite kind of game: all scoring, all night. The Heat put up 43 points in the third quarter to take control after Brooklyn had edged the second quarter 37-34. Miami won the fourth 32-25 to close out a 16 point win at the Kaseya Center.

The quarter lines tell the story of a track meet: 35-29, 34-37, 43-37, 32-25. Neither defense ever really set. For a preseason game in the final week before the regular season, the pace was the point. Both coaches got a long look at full speed rotations before the games start counting on October 21.

The Heat lined up without Bam Adebayo, who sat out with a groin issue, while Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins were all available for Miami. Brooklyn arrived at 3-0 in the preseason and leaves with its first loss.

What it means

Preseason records mean little in April. Rotation answers mean a lot in October. Boston got one: its starters can strangle a game with ball security and defense, and Robinson's rim protection off a perfect shooting night is a real bench weapon. Miami got one too: its offense can reach 144 without its defensive anchor on the floor. Friday's finales will settle the last roster calls before opening night.