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Game Recap:
MIAMI (AP) After stewing over a home-court loss for two days, the Boston Celtics unleashed their pent-up frustration on the court.
The outcome was a defensive masterpiece.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the charge with 22 points each, spearheading a well-rounded effort as the Celtics convincingly defeated the Miami Heat 104-84 on Saturday night, seizing a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
"We didn't reinvent the wheel," remarked Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. "We simply upped our intensity, controlled the physicality, and set the tempo of the game. It's about executing the fundamentals under pressure, and our guys executed exceptionally well tonight."
Game 4 is slated for Monday in Miami, where the Celtics boast a formidable record of 9-2 in their last 11 games and 6-1 in their last seven playoff outings.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Tatum contributed 10 rebounds and six assists, amplifying the Celtics' dominance throughout Game 3, as they led wire-to-wire and recaptured the home-court advantage relinquished after Miami's Game 2 victory in Boston. Kristaps Porzingis notched 18 points, while Derrick White added 16 for the Celtics.
The last time either team displayed such stifling defense (Boston) or struggled offensively (Miami) was in Game 5 of the 2022 East finals, where the Celtics secured a 93-80 road victory en route to that season's NBA Finals. Since then, Miami hadn't scored fewer than 84 points in a game, while Boston hadn't held opponents below 84 points.
“That's where our victories lie, on the defensive end,” remarked Tatum.
Bam Adebayo contributed 20 points for the eighth-seeded Miami, who continued to play without starters Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier due to injuries. Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro each chipped in 15 points for the Heat, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 12.
“They disrupted our rhythm and executed their defensive game plan effectively," acknowledged Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "They outmuscled us, disrupted our screens, and exerted physicality on both ends of the court. Credit goes to them for that. They were the aggressors."
The Celtics have showcased resilience throughout the season, often bouncing back strongly after losses. As the top seed in the playoffs, they've maintained a remarkable record of 15-4 in games following a defeat, with an average winning margin of 12.2 points.
“It's all about mindset,” explained Brown. “We focused on defense, aiming to disrupt their flow...and that set the tone for the game.”
Boston never relinquished their lead in Game 1, securing a 114-94 victory, and replicated that dominance in Game 3, leading from start to finish en route to their fifth win in six meetings against Miami this season. They set the tone early with a 21-12 lead after the first quarter, signaling that the Heat would face an uphill battle.
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Though Miami briefly showed signs of a resurgence midway through the second quarter, the momentum was short-lived. Despite the crowd rallying behind them, Herro's missed 3-pointer dashed hopes of closing the deficit to 10 points, marking the beginning of the Celtics' continued dominance.
Over the following 4 ½ minutes, the Celtics surged ahead of Miami, outscoring them 20-8 to establish a commanding 61-36 lead, firmly seizing control of the game. With a halftime score of 63-39, Boston showcased dominance across the board, boasting a 19-2 advantage in points off turnovers, a 26-12 lead in points scored in the paint, a 27-15 rebounding advantage, and a 13-6 edge in assists.
Maintaining their dominance, the Celtics extended their lead to 29 points in the second half, with Miami never managing to narrow the deficit to less than 18 points after halftime.
"Right from the start, they came out more assertive than us," remarked Jovic. "That's something we need to address."
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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