The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat, 143-110, at Kaseya Center on Thursday night.

The Celtics (35-10) came in with one win over last summer's ECF foe already on the board, and their dominant first half strongly implied another was in the offing Thursday. Boston already owned a 42-29 lead through one and then matched the struggling Heat (24-21) bucket for bucket in the second quarter to take a 13-point advantage into intermission. The visitors then ensured the final period would be a formality by adding another 10 points to their edge in the third quarter on the way to the easy victory. The Celtics shot 63.7 percent, including 55.0 percent from three-point range, and won the battle of the boards, 47-31.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 26 points, complementing them with eight rebounds and four assists. Kristaps Porzingis furnished 19 points, four boards and one assist. Jaylen Brown totaled 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Jrue Holiday supplied 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and one block. Derrick White registered 15 points, six boards, six assists and two blocks. Luke Kornet collected 12 points, five rebounds and one assist.

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro co-led the Heat with 19 points apiece, adding five rebounds and six assists, respectively. Jimmy Butler finished with 17 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Haywood Highsmith furnished 14 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal.

The Celtics return home to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, while the Heat travel to New York and face the Knicks on Saturday afternoon.