The Miami Heat has taken a 3-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals after beating the Boston Celtics 128-102 in Game 3. Miami wasn’t expecting it to be easy but went on a roll, thanks to a career-high 29 points from Gabe Vincent and 22 points from Duncan Robinson.
The Heat, who had to rally to make the playoffs, now has a chance to sweep the Celtics in a home game on Tuesday. The team is aiming for what could be its sixth NBA Finals with Erik Spoelstra as the coach. If they win, it will be the first time an NBA team has rallied back from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum scored 14 while his teammate, Jaylen Brown, added 12 points. Despite winning three times at Miami’s floor en route to last season’s East finals, the Celtics never had a chance this time around and simply cleared the bench throughout the fourth quarter. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla admitted that he didn’t have his team prepared, regardless of whether it was about the starting lineup or adjustments, and he expects to receive more criticism leading into Tuesday’s game. Miami shot 57% and enjoyed a career-high 29 points from Gabe Vincent and 22 from Duncan Robinson.
The Celtics’ Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard contributed 12 points each. Boston’s Jaylen Brown gave credit to Miami for playing well above their means, acknowledging that players like Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, and Duncan Robinson, who they should have been able to control, were playing an outstanding game.
If the Western Conference finals ended on Monday, the NBA would face several days without games as the NBA Finals begin on June 1. The Denver Nuggets lead 3-0 against the Los Angeles Lakers, while Miami is also on the brink of a sweep against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Gabe Vincent of the Miami Heat stated that they are not satisfied with just three wins and are aiming to clinch the series in Game 4 on Tuesday.
Miami’s potential sweep of the Celtics could make this playoff season the first ever with two conference finals ending in sweeps. As the eighth seed, Miami’s victory against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games and the fifth-seeded New York Knicks in six were both unexpected.
The Heat made it clear to Boston that they were thoroughly enjoying their victory. In response to Al Horford signaling for a timeout during Game 1 when the Celtics were dominating in the second quarter, Butler repeated the gesture towards Horford as the Heat took control in the third quarter of Game 3. However, the Heat didn’t even need to rally for a win in Game 3, and the Celtics didn’t put up much of a fight. Brown expressed his disappointment, calling it a letdown for the team, fans, and organization, and admitting that it was embarrassing. The blame could be shared, but the outcome was collective.
Although Boston was able to close the gap slightly at the start of the second half, Miami dominated the rest of the game. The Heat went on a 28-7 run to take a commanding 33-point lead, leaving the crowd somewhat subdued.
The Heat will use the next day to decompress before finishing off the series. In terms of tips, the Celtics saw Robert Williams make his 12th straight shot before missing his second attempt, while the Heat’s fans had a whiteout and Tatum wore an all-white suit. Robinson made five 3-pointers for the Heat and now holds the record for the most in Miami postseason history.
Love had to leave for the Heat locker room for an evaluation for an ankle injury and did not return to the game. Charles Barkley was very critical of the Celtics, calling their lack of mental toughness embarrassing.