‘Just dumbfounding’: Staggering NBA history looms as host melts down over latest Celtics flop
Miami Heat grew to become the first-ever eighth seed to win a playoffs match by 25 factors or extra in a brutal 128-102 win over the second-seeded Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Miami now personal a 3-0 stranglehold on the NBA Eastern Conference finals, and are vying to change into simply the second eighth-seeded crew, after the 1999 New York Knicks, to succeed in the NBA Finals.
The Heat, who host sport 4 on Tuesday, are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals.
The Celtics although are battling the load of historical past — no NBA crew has rallied from 0-3 all the way down to win a best-of-seven playoff collection.
Heat talisman Jimmy Butler scored 16 factors and Bam Adebayo scored 13. But it was level guard Gabe Vincent who led the way in which, connecting on 11 of 14 photographs from the sphere, together with six of 9 from three-point vary, on the way in which to a game-high 29 factors for Miami.
Duncan Robertson and Caleb Martin got here off the bench to mix for 40 factors and 9 three-pointers, which the Heat shot sensationally as a crew.
Who will win all of it? Watch each sport of the NBA convention finals and Finals LIVE on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
In entrance of a pumped-up crowd at Kaseya Center in Miami, the Heat dominated, Boston unable to construct on an early three-point lead within the face of a complete crew effort from the hosts on each ends of the ground.
Boston star Jayson Tatum scored 14 factors and Jaylen Brown added 12, however Tatum made simply one in all his seven three-point makes an attempt and Brown missed all seven of his because the Celtics linked on simply 11 of their 42 three-point makes an attempt.
Miami led by as many as 33 within the third quarter, taking pictures 56.8 p.c from the sphere as they restricted the Celtics to lower than 39.8 p.c.
“As you can tell, the rim was as big as the ocean for everybody,” stated Adebayo — who thrilled the group with a pair of alley oop dunks and a spin round Brown for a one-handed slam.
“(We were) making the extra pass, making the right pass and everybody played together.”
Max Strus additionally chipped in 10 off the bench and the Heat didn’t miss a beat when veteran Kevin Love departed after lower than 5 minutes with an damage.
“The lack of mental toughness was embarrassing … That was an embarrassment by the Celtics,” Charles Barkley stated at halftime.
Basketball pundit Stephen A Smith wrote: “You know what: I don’t even recognize these @celtics. They are getting their ass kicked. Look like they’re barely trying. @MiamiHEAT getting into lanes uncontested and at will.#Embarrassing!”
MORE COVERAGE
Lakers needing to make NBA historical past as LeBron on brink of crushing playoffs exit
‘Well done champ’: Kyrgios fumes as Celtics star picks battle with Butler, prices Boston the sport
‘Treated like a god’: The huge pull behind romantic Harden return as essential $35m name looms
Ringer founder Bill Simmons wrote: “The fall of the Celtics defense in 2023 is just dumbfounding. Kudos to Miami for knowing exactly how to attack a disconnected, poorly coached half-asleep team. This is embarrassing. Oh and the timeout came 4 plays too late. Should be a fun pod tonight!”
The Heat closed a fast-paced, bodily first quarter on a 9-2 scoring run to guide 30-22 and pushed their result in as many as 22 factors within the second quarter.
Boston managed to chop the hole, however with the Celtics once more struggling from three-point vary and with turnovers, Miami’s 61-46 halftime lead represented the largest halftime deficit confronted by Boston this post-season.
There could be no re-set for the Celtics within the third quarter. Miami out-scored them 32-17 within the interval to take a 93-63 lead into the fourth. Tatum and Brown mixed for simply three baskets within the third, Miami’s dominance evident on back-to-back Boston possessions halfway via the third — Adebayo blocking Tatum’s shot on one and Martin developing with a steal to arrange a Strus three-pointer.
