Celtics lose first Summer League game to Heat 100-96

The Boston Celtics returned to action for Game 3 of the Las Vegas Summer League on Monday night at the Pavilion on Day 5. The Summer C’s dropped their first game of Summer, as the Heat prevailed for a 100-96 victory.

Rookie prospect Hugo González returned to action for Boston as he started the game alongside Charles Bassey, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Max Shulga.

Jordan Walsh blew a dunk attempt in the game’s first seconds, and both teams missed early looks before Max Shulga fed Bassey on a two-handed lob for the first score of the night.

Scheierman then dove to the ground for a loose ball and found Walsh from a seated possession as the third-year man got out for an open layup.

González had a pair of quick turnovers and two fouls to start the contest as he still adapts to the pace and intensity of Summer League. Scheierman found Jordan Walsh down low for his second assist as he sealed and overpowered Erik Stevenson for a three-point play.

Both Miami and Boston were evenly matched early in the contest, as they both had 11 points to tie it at the first timeout. Norris, Lofton Jr. and Wong were first off the bench for the C’s alongside Walsh and Scheierman. Walsh paced the C’s early as he hit on his first three-point attempt and logged 8 points with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter.

González got stripped attempting a euro step through the Miami key; the rookie from Spain was having a quarter to forget. Isaiah Wong converted two free throw attempts to break a Boston scoring drought. Miami then went on an 8-0 run to end the first quarter, up by 9 points, 30-21.

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Hugo and Shulga converted on their free throws to start the second quarter, as Boston got some point scoring from Kendall Brown with 5 quick points. The Heat, though, were running the floor well and kept the lead at around 8 points at the midway point.

Scheierman came into the game shooting just 2-15 from three in his first two outings, but he looked good as he nailed a deep three for Boston, just their fourth three-pointer of the contest. Baylor then dropped a slick dime to Jordan Walsh on the fast break for a strong dunk and his tenth point.

Amari Williams was a DNP in this one, and with Charles Bassey off the court for the C’s, Miami was feasting on the inside against the smaller Boston lineup.

Jordan Walsh, who was having a great game, picked up a second technical foul as he shoved Pelle Larsson to the ground. A day after he recorded 7 fouls, Walsh went to the showers early with the scores 43-40 to Miami. Larsson hit on a nifty running bank shot; he was productive in the first half for Miami with 12 first-half points in his last game before flying back to Sweden for the 2025 Euros.

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Boston went scoreless for a four-minute stretch after the Walsh incident and scored just 20 points in the entire second quarter. Miami certainly looked like the hungrier team throughout the first half; the Heat led 54-41 at the half.

Norris would start the second half in place of Jordan Walsh and he converted on a three-pointer and then had converted on a circus shot, up-and-under layup to score the first 5 points of the second half.

Scheierman hit on his second three of the game from the corner, as the C’s kept things interesting to start the third quarter. González had another euro step into the Miami lane but the ball bobbled loose off the rim, Hugo was 0-7 from the field, before finally converting on a three pointer.

Boston was back in the contest at the midway point of the quarter, as Scheierman’s off balance thirteenth point of the night cut the Miami lead to just 5 points.

Norris, Scheierman, Lofton Jr were all solid in the third period for Boston as the Summer C’s managed to outscore the Heat, 31 to 18 and tie the game at 72 apiece.

Boston had shifted the momentum in the third quarter and it would be interesting to see how they would close the game without Jordan Walsh. González was having a rough night overall but his second three-pointer of the night gave Boston it’s first lead since the first quarter, 76-74.

Scheierman missed on another three pointer and Hugo González crashed the boards hard from the weak side for the hustle tip-in play, his eleventh point of the night.

Both teams traded baskets in the closing phase of the game. Lofton Jr. was productive in the fourth, he had consecutive makes and found Kendall Brown with a smooth pass on the interior for the C’s. Boston held a 89-85 lead with 2 and a half minutes to go.

Larsson hit a layup and was fouled by Scheierman and the Swede handed the Heat the lead 93-91. Scheierman then hit a corner triple to cut the game to 1 point, however Stevenson hit a three of his own with the shot clock expiring. That would be enough for the Heat to hang on for their first win in the 2025 Summer League.

Scheierman would lead Boston with 19 points, 9 assists and 5 steals, Lofton Jr. had 12 points and Walsh had 13 points in just 10 minutes of play. 7 players would finish in double figures for Boston.

The Summer Celtics face the Los Angeles Lakers next on Thursday at 9pm.