On Friday night, the Boston Celtics fell to a demoralizing defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat’s dominance was apparent from the opening tip, as they raced out to a 13-5 lead in the first few minutes and never looked back. Miami finished the game with a resounding 106-79 victory, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
The Heat relied on their usual cast of characters to take care of business. Jimmy Butler led the way with 20 points and five rebounds, while Goran Dragic had 22 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Bam Adebayo added 21 points, ten rebounds, and four assists, while Jae Crowder chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds. Miami’s depth was also on full display, as they got contributions from the likes of Tyler Herro, Kelly Olynyk, and Andre Iguodala.
Boston, meanwhile, struggled mightily. They shot just 39% from the field and an abysmal 7-for-35 (20%) from three-point range. Jaylen Brown was the only Celtic to score over 20 points, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds. Jayson Tatum had just 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting, while Kemba Walker scored a mere ten points on 3-for-9 shooting.
It was a disappointing performance all around for Boston, who looked out of sorts on both ends of the court. They were unable to get anything going offensively, and their defense was far from the swarming force that had helped them win the first two games of the series. For Miami, it was a complete team effort that showcased their depth, skill, and experience.
The result leaves the Celtics in a precarious position heading into Game 4. They’ll need to regroup quickly and find ways to generate more offense, especially from the perimeter. They’ll also need to put together a better defensive effort, particularly against Miami’s pick-and-roll game that has been so effective throughout the series.
As for the Heat, they’ll be feeling confident and will look to build on their Game 3 performance. They’ve shown time and again that they’re capable of competing with anyone in the league, and if they can continue to play at this level, they may just find themselves playing for a championship next month.
In the end, Game 3 was a blowout victory for the Miami Heat, and it served as a reminder that they are a dangerous team that should not be underestimated. As for the Boston Celtics, they’ll need to bounce back quickly if they hope to keep their NBA Finals aspirations alive.