LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Boston Celtics, fueled by a near triple-double from Jayson Tatum, held off the short-handed but determined Miami Heat 110-106 in a National Basketball Association clash that turned testy in a tense fourth quarter on Sunday.

League leaders Boston, who blew out the Heat last month, found the going tougher this time as the Heat cut a 15-point third-quarter deficit to two with less than two minutes remaining.

Boston star Jaylen Brown and Miami's Duncan Robinson exchanged heated words after tangling early in the final period, with Brown assessed a flagrant foul.

But the Celtics — stunned by the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals last season — kept their heads down and polished off Miami.

Tatum scored 26 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Kristaps Porzingis added 25 points, Brown scored 20 points and Jrue Holiday chipped in 15 for the Celtics, who made 16-of-39 three-point attempts.

Tyler Herro scored 22 of his 24 points in the second half. His three-pointer with 1:49 remaining pulled the Heat within 106-104, but Porzingis and Tatum sealed the win at the free-throw line.

"They're a good team, they're going to go on runs," Tatum said. "You've just got to withstand it and answer."

Tatum said the Celtics are "better than we were last year at this point" but cautioned that the pressure "really kicks up" after next week's NBA
All-Star Game break.