The “don’t let us get one” quote was a reference from Brown in the 2023 playoffs, the Celtics All-Star said it, when Boston trailed Butler and the Heat 0-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

They had warned Miami they only needed one win to start turning the tide in the series, the Celtics won three straight games, but Miami won Game 7 in Boston to reach the NBA Finals.

The Celtics entered the 2024 NBA playoffs as the top overall seed and in the first-round series as heavy favorites, and they allowed 22 3-pointers in Game 1. Miami beat Boston at its own game with a franchise playoff record of 23 3s in Game 2.

Butler suffered an MCL in his right knee during the Heat’s Play-In Tournament loss to the Philadelphia 76ers last week.

During his injury, the team suffered a 114-94 loss in Game 1 in Boston, but they bounced back on Wednesday, Tyler Herro, led the Heat with 24 points and 14 assists in Game 2.

The Heat went 23-for-43 from 3-point range, registering the most 3-pointers in a postseason game in franchise history.

Butler will remain out for Game 3 and possibly more, as Game 3 is scheduled at Kaseya Center.

BOSTON — With nearly a week to rest and prepare before the playoffs, a fully healthy roster, and no worries about needing to defend Jimmy Butler, the Celtics still found a way to abuse having everything on their side in Game 2.

Miami shocked Boston, taking a 111-101 victory to even up the series at 1-1 on Wednesday night. While the Heat were urgent, the Celtics played a nonchalant and relaxed second half, watching Miami dangle a feasible lead over them. In response, Boston played content. The defense was mediocre, which hampered the offense’s ability to find baskets in transition. The ball movement wasn’t sharp, opening the door for turnovers and more offense from the Heat to further pile on the pressure.

It was a disastrous night, with no wiggle room for excuses. Here are four takeaways from Celtics-Heat Game 2:

1. Miami’s Caleb Martin reaffirmed himself as Boston’s Round 1 villain
Martin was the sole collector of the overwhelming majority of boos poured down from the TD Garden, and that didn’t change throughout the night.