Stung by a previous home loss, the Boston Celtics responded vigorously in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round NBA playoff series against the Miami Heat, securing a 104-84 victory. This win put Boston ahead 2-1 in the series and marked a significant defensive achievement.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 22 points each, contributing to a game that Boston controlled from start to finish.
“We didn’t make too many adjustments,” explained Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “We played a little bit harder, we played harder and we dictated the physicality and the tempo of the game. It’s the simple things that you have to do under a high level of stress, high level of adversity. I thought our guys did a great job of dictating that tonight.”
The series now moves to Miami for Game 4, where the Celtics have historically performed well, boasting a 9-2 record in their last 11 games. Additional scoring for Boston came from Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White, who added 18 and 16 points, respectively.
Miami struggled offensively, a sharp contrast to their usual performance, with Bam Adebayo leading the Heat with 20 points. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reflected on the physicality Boston brought to the game.
“They took us out of stuff we would like to get to. They were the more physical team,” Spoelstra said. “They bodied us, bullied us on screens, got through stuff, distorted screens, everything. … You have to credit them for that. They were the more physical team, the team with more physicality and force on both ends of the court.”
This bounce-back win is consistent with Boston’s season pattern, as they tend to win decisively following a loss. Brown emphasized the team’s defensive focus.
“Just mindset,” Brown said. “We put an emphasis on defense, trying to make them uncomfortable a little bit … and I think that opened up the game.”
The Celtics never trailed in the game, establishing an early lead and expanding it significantly by halftime.
The second quarter saw Boston’s lead balloon to 25 points, effectively putting the game out of reach for Miami, who couldn’t close the gap to less than 18 points in the second half.
As the series progresses, Boston’s ability to leverage their defensive strengths and maintain their aggressive play will be crucial in their quest to advance past the Heat.
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