The Miami Heat have taken a commanding 3-0 series lead against the Boston Celtics, after a scorching performance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In Game 1, the Heat pulled off a close victory in overtime, despite a 30-point performance from Boston’s Jayson Tatum. Heat star Jimmy Butler also put up 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists to seal the win.
Game 2 saw Miami step up their offensive game, with Butler scoring 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. Goran Dragic also came through with 25 points of his own, while Bam Adebayo recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Boston struggled to keep up, despite a solid 21-point effort from Tatum.
But the Heat really turned up the heat in Game 3, shaking off a slow start to dominate the second half. The Celtics held a slim 60-59 lead at halftime, before Miami erupted for a 37-point third quarter. Butler led the way with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Dragic chipped in 22 points and 5 assists. Adebayo once again put up a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Boston mounted a late comeback effort, with Tatum scoring 28 points and Jaylen Brown adding 19. But it wasn’t enough to close the gap, as Miami held on for a 117-106 victory.
The Heat’s three-game sweep has put them on the brink of a spot in the NBA Finals, and they look poised to finish off the Celtics in Game 4. With Butler leading the way and a supporting cast of talented players stepping up at key moments, Miami has proven to be a formidable opponent for Boston.
Meanwhile, the Celtics will need a miraculous turnaround to have any hope of salvaging this series. Tatum and Brown have been solid performers, but they will need more help from their supporting cast if they hope to mount a comeback. Celtics star Kemba Walker, in particular, will need to step up to provide the scoring punch the team desperately needs.
As the series heads towards its conclusion, the Heat are looking like they could be an unstoppable force in these playoffs. While it remains to be seen whether they can maintain this level of performance against the Western Conference champion, the Heat have certainly made a statement with their dominance over the Celtics.