Celtics vs. Heat 104-84

The Celtics' dominant performance against the Heat in their recent matchup left fans in awe. With a final score of 104-84, Boston showcased their superior skills and teamwork throughout the game. The Celtics' defense was relentless, holding the Heat to just 84 points while also forcing numerous turnovers. Offensively, Boston was firing on all cylinders, with multiple players contributing double-digit points. Jayson Tatum led the charge with a stellar performance, showcasing his scoring ability and leadership on the court.

On the other hand, the Heat struggled to find their rhythm and were unable to keep up with the Celtics' pace. Miami's offense sputtered throughout the game, unable to penetrate Boston's defense effectively. The loss serves as a wake-up call for Miami as they look to regroup and bounce back from this defeat.

Would Boston, after the head-scratching loss, rebound and again resemble the club that won the East by 14 games in the regular season? Or had coach Erik Spoelstra and his scrappy group found a formula it could repeat to play spoiler in the series for a second straight postseason?

The answer, emphatically, was the former.

After surrendering 23 3-pointers in their Game 2 loss, the Celtics were far more active and physical defensively Saturday night and smothered the Heat in a 104-84 Game 3 win to take a 2-1 series edge.

Tatum added 10 rebounds and six assists for the Celtics, who led Game 3 wire-to-wire and reclaimed the home-court edge that they lost when Miami won Game 2 in Boston. Kristaps Porzingis had 18 points and Derrick White scored 16 for the Celtics.

The last time either team saw these kind of numbers - Boston on defense, Miami on offense - was Game 5 of the East finals on May 25, 2022, a 93-80 Celtics road win that helped them reach that season’s NBA Finals. The Heat had scored more than 84 points in every game since and the Celtics had allowed more than 84 in every game since.

“That’s where we’re going to win games, on the defensive end,” Tatum said.

Bam Adebayo scored 20 points for eighth-seeded Miami, which remains without starters Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier because of injuries. Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro each scored 15 for the Heat, who got 12 from Jaime Jaquez Jr.

The Celtics outscored Miami 20-8 in the next 4 ½ minutes to go up 61-36 and the game was really never in doubt again It was 63-39 at the break, Boston dominant in every which way — a 19-2 edge in points off turnovers, a 26-12 scoring edge in the paint, 27-15 in rebounds, 13-6 in assists.

Read more

Sarah H

Also on site :

• Arsenal transfer news: Rodrygo message clear as Gunners deal Real Madrid blow
• Businesswoman forced to pay £15,000 to her landlord after misreading the T&C’s
• Iran’s top diplomat says talks with US ‘complicated’ by American strike on nuclear sites