BOSTON – Rajon Rondo posted a “triple-double” of 16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds Sunday as the Boston Celtics humbled the Miami Heat 91-72 in an NBA contest.
The Celtics wasted no time in setting a tone in the showdown of perennial Eastern Conference contenders, taking a 29-19 first-quarter lead.
The star-studded Heat responded with a 10-0 second-quarter run, whittling the deficit to one point.
But Boston dominated the third quarter, ending the period on a 29-8 scoring run to take an 80-56 lead into the final quarter.
LeBron James scored 23 points for the Heat but wasn’t a dominant force. He went to the free-throw line just once in the first three quarters — on an illegal defence technical foul against Boston.
“This was a good, old-fashioned you-know-what,” said James, who didn’t have a single assist. “We’ve got to own it, and we’ve got to get better. We’ve got to figure it out before the playoffs. … We understand we have to fix this right now.”
With the victory, Boston improved to 30-22, gaining a bit more distance over Philadelphia atop the Atlantic Division.
The Heat remained ahead of Orlando for the second seed in the Eastern Conference, but after Chicago’s loss to Oklahoma City earlier Sunday they missed a chance to gain on Eastern Conference leaders Chicago.
“This game was unacceptable,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “We will fix it together, collectively. We’re not happy about it. We will figure it out, somehow, somehow, this group, together, in that locker room. We will figure it out.”