The Heat run riot in Miami as they beat Boston Celtics 128-102 in Game 3 to take a 3-0 lead in the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
The Celtics, who had lost 0-2 in the first two games of the
series, just couldn't get going and now stare a crashing out of the season as
every game from hereon is going to be win or go home.
Gabe Vincent and Duncan Robinson led charge
for Miami, scoring 29 and 22 points, respectively but it was their three-point
shots which made a whole lot of difference.
Heat set the tone early
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 11 and
12 points, respectively for the Celtics in first quarter but were matched ably
by Jimmy Butler and Max Strus' 12 points each as the Heat took a eight point
lead by the end of 1Q with the box score reading 30-22 in Miami's favour.
Boston try and fight
The Celtics tried to keep up with the Heat in
2Q but Miami ensured that Boston stays at some distance. The Heat scored 31
points in the quarter with bam Adebayo sinking some mean dunks and a 17-6 run
didn't help Boston either. The Celtics managed 24 points in the quarter and now
were trailing by 15 points at the half-time.
Miami heats up in 3Q
Gabe Vincent was on fire as they drained
couple of threes and the Celtics missed everything - 3Ps, lay-ups and
alley-oops. The hosts scored 32 points and Boston had the most miserable of the
quarter, scoring just 17. The heat were in full command as the lead now was 30
points - something which even the Celtics seemed to believe impossible to wipe
out as their shoulder dropped.
A formal last quarter
The last 12 minutes of the game were just a
mere formality as the Heat ensured that lead doesn't go lower than 27 points.
Even though Boston matched Heat in terms of scoring with 39 points against
Miami's 35, it was just all too little too late.
The top performers
Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Grant Williams
scored in double digits for the Celtics. Along with them, Payton Pritchard and
Luke Kornet too scored in double digits but none scored more than 12.
As for the Heat, Gabe Vincent top scored with
his career high 29 points and he also made six of his nine attempted 3Ps. Apart
from him Caleb Martin scored 18, Jimmy Butler scored 16 and Duncan Robinson
chipped in with 22 and sank five of seven 3Ps attempts.
Post a Comment