The shorthanded Celtics had no trouble dispatching the Heat, 108-89, Monday night at TD Garden.
Here are 10 takeaways, as Boston moved to 17-4 on the season following a convincing effort.
1. Defense dominated
The Celtics held the Heat to 34.9 percent from the floor and 20.6 percent from 3-point range.
Every Heat starter shot below 50 percent on the night, as Boston kept an opponent under 90 for the first time in the regular season since March of last year.
Part of it was players like Bam Adebayo missing shots they often make, but the Celtics deserve credit for rotating well, closing out on shooters and consistently forcing the Heat into tough twos.