In a stunning display of dominance, the Boston Celtics crushed the Miami Heat 104-84 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. From the opening tip-off, it was clear that the Celtics were on a mission to assert their superiority over their opponents. Led by star players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston's offense was firing on all cylinders, while their defense suffocated Miami's usually potent scoring attack.
The Celtics' ball movement was crisp and efficient, leading to open shots and easy baskets. On the other end of the court, they smothered the Heat with relentless pressure and tenacious defense. Miami simply had no answer for Boston's relentless onslaught.
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
Ray Chan Art Director Dies at 56 Newsreader Rageh Omaar at ITV falling ill on-air
Sarah H
Also on site :
- English soccer player throws chair at woman on vacation in wild incident
- Potential K’Andre Miller trade hangs over Rangers’ NHL draft weekend
- Arsenal transfer news: Rodrygo message clear as Gunners deal Real Madrid blow