Miami committed a crime of lèse-majesté, by daring to win in Game 2 in Boston… and paid a heavy price last night in Game 3! Stifled from the first minutes of the match, the Floridians were never able to raise their heads and finally lost 104-84. Authors of 22 points each, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum almost did not have to force their talent.
The Celtics quickly set the tone with a 12-3 start marked by two 3-point baskets and a tap from Kristaps Porzingis. Even though the Latvian came out immediately for two personal fouls, Miami did not really know how to take advantage. Unable to get rid of the pincers imposed by Boston in defense and clumsy from afar (1/9 at 3-points), Erik Spoelstra's troops finished the first act with 12 small points (12-21)!
But Tyler Herro's teammates were clearly not at the end of their troubles. Boston started the second quarter with a 9-0 run with two 3-point baskets from Jayson Tatum and one from Sam Hauser (12-30). Then towards the end of the second quarter, it was the White-Tatum-Porzingis trio who sent the locals to the ropes (31-52).
The Celtics in control
Derrick White recalled his good memories of the Kaseya Center by scoring 12 points in the period, with two 3-point arrows, an extraordinary tap following a missed throw from Jaylen Brown, then two baskets in transition to bring the score at 61-36!
Suffice to say that the Heat were condemned to the feat in the second half to come back from such a gap. There was indeed a 10-0 marked by 3-pointers from Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro which helped maintain hope (53-72). But it was short-lived as Boston quickly regained control, with Derrick White once again in charge then the Holiday-Horford duo, notably from afar (59-86).
The heatwave had passed, and the Celtics were then able to absorb the blows of Patty Mills, Jaime Jaquez Jr and Bam Adebayo without trembling too much in the last act. Winners 104-84, Joe Mazzulla's men will now try to repeat the same performance in Game 4 tomorrow, in order to return to Boston to finish the job.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Miami recovers from the breakdown. What pain to see this Miami attack incapable of instilling a semblance of dynamic in order to ignite the match for the first meeting of the series in Florida. For 12 minutes, Pat Riley's charges lived a real nightmare, finishing the first act with a tiny total of 12 points scored. A playoff record? Well no, the Heat have already done worse! It was two years ago, during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final, with only 11 points scored in 12 minutes, and it was already against Boston! Like last night, the Celtics had rallied at halftime at +24 to win without trembling.
– In loving memory of Derrick White. Miami and Boston have not been apart since 2020 with this fourth confrontation in the playoffs over the last five seasons. There is no shortage of winks and memories reminiscent of previous series, and one action notably recalled last year's Game 6, when Derrick White emerged after a too-short free throw from Jaylen Brown to make the tap of the match. An action which brought back the masterful tap which allowed Boston to snatch a Game 7 at home. More generally, Derrick White's hot shot in the second quarter brought back this moment of glory from behind.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
