Heat coach Erik Spoelstra questions officials after loss to Celtics
The Celtics got their first redemption against the Heat since last season’s playoff exit when they beat Miami at TD Garden on Friday night, sparking a postgame refereeing standoff.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra talked about the bad call in the fourth quarter. Boston’s Derrick White, guarded by Jimmy Butler, drew a foul that put the Heat over the line and gave the Celtics a pair of free throws for a 114-111 lead with 44.9 seconds left — and angered Spoelstra.
“We’re willing to disagree,” Spoelstra told reporters after the game via Bally Sports video. – I objected to the evil that was done in the half yard, not the one that was done in front of me. Whether it was a foul or not, I don’t know, but he committed a foul at half court, which obviously wasn’t a foul and it’s not the same game. There’s a deflection and it goes up the middle and then they take it, obviously there was a turnover. It was explained to me in the coach of the meeting that it is not the same game.
It proved to be enough of a rally killer to give the Celtics enough momentum in the final minute to end the contest and hand Miami its first loss of the season.
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While Spoelstra didn’t want to meet the players face-to-face, he admitted that Miami could have prevented a last-minute call from affecting the outcome of the battle with Boston.
“Then that call didn’t go well for us. We had a lot of chances, admitted Spoelstra.
The Celtics used the pressure to make
Miami pay for their mistakes, making the
Heat 12 of 16 by taking advantage of the
new look in a number of ways. White led the
offense with 28 points as the C’s quickly (and
wisely) recognized him as a hot hand and let
the 29-year-old go to work.
Boston’s frontcourt also scored in Miami,
defeating the Heat 52-36. Kristaps Porzingis
had 17 points and nine rebounds, including
six offensive plays. Miami and Boston meet
again on January 25th.
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