‘I have confidence in every shot I have,’ says Celtics’ Green after Heat-sinking three

MIAMI, Florida // Jeff Green found the only possible spot in the slightest of times to stun the Miami Heat.

Green hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Boston Celtics to a 111-110 victory over the Heat on Saturday night.

“I have confidence in every shot I have,” Green said. “When it left, I had a good feeling it would go in. It went in.”

Gerald Wallace’s pass from next to the Heat’s bench found Green on the far right corner, where he unleashed a shot over the outstretched hands of LeBron James. The shot was confirmed after a video review, giving the Celtics their third consecutive win.

“I’m glad we still had time left on the clock,” Boston coach Brad Stevens said. “It is proof that in this game if you score quickly, you are going to have a chance to at least shoot the ball if the other team misses free throws.

“It was a great play by Jeff Green, but it is fortunate to even get a shot off in that moment.”

Wallace hit a layup with 1.6 seconds remaining to get Boston within 110-108 and he fouled Dwyane Wade with 0.6 seconds remaining. Wade missed the first free throw and deliberately bounced the second off the backboard. His shot failed to hit the rim and no time went off the clock, allowing Boston to call a time out and set up an inbounds play.

“I was trying to hit the rim, down a little bit,” said Wade, who admitted deliberately missing the shot was his call. “It didn’t go where it was supposed to go.”

Green finished with 24 points and was 5 of 8 on 3-pointers. Avery Bradley scored 17 points and Jordan Crawford added 15 for the Celtics (3-4).

When the Celtics came out of the time out, the play was set up to tie the game, but Green had other ideas.

“It was for a two, but I told Gerald I wanted to shoot the 3 to try to win it,” Green said. “Gerald made a great pass at the end, and he got the 2-pointer which gave us the opportunity to be in this position.

“Our team made great plays down the stretch, and that is what it takes to win games.”

Down 110-108, the Celtics had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Kelly Olynyk missed a bank shot with 6.9 seconds remaining. James grabbed the rebound, dribbled toward the Heat end and was fouled by Olynyk.

James, who was questionable for the game because of ongoing back discomfort, converted two free throws with 3.6 seconds remaining to give the Heat 110-106 lead.

“I’m not 100 percent; my back is not where I want it to be,” James said. “But I could still be effective. I thought I was tonight. I just didn’t make enough plays to help us win.”

James led Miami (4-3) with 25 points and 10 assists. Chris Bosh had 20 points and Wade finished with 18.

Raptors 115, Jazz 91

Forward Tyler Hansbrough scored a season-best 23 points as the Toronto Raptors snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the winless Utah Jazz 115-91.

The Jazz have lost seven games in a row to open the season, the team’s worst start since dropping the first 11 games of their inaugural season in 1974-75 in New Orleans.

The Raptors (3-4) also ended a seven-game home losing streak to the Jazz (0-7) with the victory.

Pacers 96, Nets 91

Small forward Paul George scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half as the Indiana Pacers survived to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 96-91.

The Pacers (7-0) remain unbeaten with the win and are off to their best start in franchise history.

The Nets (2-4) continue to struggle to click into gear and meet expectations as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Guards Joe Johnson and Deron Williams led the Nets with 17 points in the loss.

Hawks 104, Magic 94

The Atlanta Hawks won their 11th straight game over the Orlando Magic, 104-94, behind a balanced attack that featured six players in double figures.

Forward Paul Milsap, one of eight new faces on the Hawks, led the way with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hawks overhauled their roster in the off-season and brought in longtime San Antonio Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer to help the franchise move up the ranks in the Eastern Conference. They are off to a 3-3 start.

Grizzlies 108, Warriors 90

The Memphis Grizzlies returned to their dominating post play and beat the Golden State Warriors 108-90.

Power forward Zach Randolph led the way with 23 points and 11 rebounds as all five Grizzlies starters and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Mike Miller scored in double-figures.

Point guard Mike Conley scored 20 with six assists, center Marc Gasol scored 18, Miller had 15, shooting guard Tony Allen had 12, and small forward Tayshaun Prince 10.

The Warriors (4-3) have not defeated the Grizzlies (3-3) in three years.

Clippers 107, Rockets 94

After closing the third quarter with a tip-in at the buzzer and opening the fourth with a three-point play, Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford drilled a pair of three-pointers down the stretch of a 107-94 win over the Houston Rockets.

Crawford finished with 16 points off the bench to lift the Clippers (4-3) and complement strong efforts from power forward Blake Griffin (22 points) and point guard Chris Paul (14 points and 13 assists).

Forward Chandler Parsons led the Rockets (4-3) with 23 points and eight rebounds while center Dwight Howard added 21 points and eight boards.

Cavaliers 127, 76ers 125 (double overtime)

The third time was a charm for Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, who failed to make winning shots at the end of regulation and first overtime but would not be denied with 0.6 seconds left in the second overtime.

Irving’s driving layup handed the Cavs a heart-stopping 127-125 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The All Star led all scorers with a season-high 39 points and added five rebounds and a season-high 12 assists.

Mavericks 91, Bucks 83

Guard Monta Ellis had 18 points and five assists in his return to Milwaukee as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Bucks 91-83.

Ellis went six-of-14 from the field as Dallas shot 42.3 percent. Forward Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points, forward Shawn Marion finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and forward Vince Carter chipped in 13 points in 21 minutes off the bench.

Trail Blazers 96, Kings 85

Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins’ 33-point, 12-rebound game went for naught as LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews combined for 43 points to lead Portland to a 96-85 victory.

The Trail Blazers (4-2) overcame a tough night for point guard Damian Lillard, who scored just four points on 1-for-15 shooting. Alridge added 14 rebounds to his 22 points.

Robin Lopez also chipped in a double-double for Portland, scoring 12 and bringing in 10 rebounds.