MIAMI — Luol Deng scored 23 points, James Ennis scored 10 of his 16 in the fourth quarter and the Miami Heat ended a five-game home losing streak with a 100-84 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.
Norris Cole scored 15 and Mario Chalmers had 11 points and 10 assists for Miami.
Tyler Zeller scored 22 for Boston, which had won three straight. Jeff Green and Kelly Olynyk added 13.
It was the first time in 154 games that Miami didn’t have any of its former Big Three — Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh or LeBron James. Wade sat with a bruised right knee, Bosh missed his fifth straight game with a left calf strain and James now plays for Cleveland, which visits Miami on Christmas.
Boston got the game’s first basket, and never led again. Miami scored the next nine points, led by 10 at the half and after Boston got within five early in the third, the Heat went on a 9-0 run to rebuild a 65-51 lead.
Boston was within eight with 5:54 left, but Ennis took care of that with a 3-pointer, then a follow slam on the next Miami possession and the Heat maintained control the rest of the way.
Rookie Marcus Smart got his first start at point guard for Boston, which is still adjusting to life after the trade that sent Rajon Rondo to Dallas and brought Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright and Jae Crowder to the Celtics.
Not only did all three Celtics newcomers play, but there were times when they were on the court together.
"We’re all guessing a little bit, especially with the new guys. … This is a little bit of an exploratory time for us," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "We don’t get the chance to do that during practice. We have to do that during games."
The lineup with Smart — who finished with three points and four assists — was Boston’s fifth of the season.
That’s paltry by Miami standards. Wade being out led to yet another new Miami lineup, its fourth straight, ninth in December alone and 13th of the season.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Stevens said that as many as 11 Celtics are meriting consideration for starting jobs. "We can’t let our depth … as we figure this out and feel this out, become a detriment," Stevens said. … Boston was bidding for its first four-game winning streak since November 2013. … Smart’s potentially in good company, since other rookies to start at the point for Boston of late include Rondo, Chauncey Billups, Brian Shaw and Dee Brown.
Heat: F Udonis Haslem made his first three shots, giving him nine straight makes over a three-game span. He was shooting 35 per cent before that stretch. … Bosh hopes to play on Christmas, though the Heat are listing him as day-to-day. … Reserve C Justin Hamilton missed the second half with a headache, and fellow backup C Hassan Whiteside didn’t play after losing two toenails after Friday’s game against Washington.
UP NEXT
Celtics: At Orlando on Tuesday.
Heat: Host Philadelphia on Tuesday.
