Celtics’ protection solutions name in blowout of Warmth in Recreation 3

MIAMI — After maybe probably the most shocking results of the postseason up to now — the shorthanded, No. 8-seeded Warmth beating the No. 1-seeded Celtics in Recreation 2 to tie the first-round collection — it was pure to marvel how issues would play out within the pivotal Recreation 3.

Would Boston, after the head-scratching loss, rebound and once more resemble the membership that gained the East by 14 video games within the common season? Or had coach Erik Spoelstra and his scrappy group discovered a method it may repeat to play spoiler within the collection for a second straight postseason?

The reply, emphatically, was the previous.

After surrendering 23 3-pointers of their Recreation 2 loss, the Celtics had been much more energetic and bodily defensively Saturday and smothered the Warmth in a 104-84 Recreation 3 win to take a 2-1 collection edge.

Recreation 4 is Monday in Miami.

Boston stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown mentioned coach Joe Mazzulla challenged them to play with extra defensive depth after watching Miami go off from deep in Recreation 2.

“All people is aware of how gifted we’re. However can we be the harder, harder-playing group?” mentioned Tatum, who completed with 22 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. “If we will mix that with the expertise, it is gonna be exhausting to beat us.

“Can we begin off each recreation, basically, punching first as a substitute of reacting? That is a take a look at we’ve got to be up for each single night time.”

The Celtics’ response to Mazzulla’s problem was immediate. Guard Jrue Vacation and his teammates locked in early towards the Warmth offense, surrendering simply three factors by means of the primary 6 minutes, 46 seconds of play. Boston gave up simply 12 factors on 5-for-21 capturing within the first quarter, which Mazzulla referred to as “a bodily, powerful … rock struggle.”

Boston was blissful to create these sorts of circumstances defensively by pushing up additional on that aspect of the ball. Brown, who completed with a game-high 23 factors, mentioned the Celtics got here in with a handful of guidelines after Miami’s record-setting exhibiting in Recreation 2.

“No ‘dare’ pictures. Respect these guys’ functionality. They’re NBA gamers, they usually can get sizzling on any given night time,” Brown mentioned. “We simply needed to make it uncomfortable for them.”

The outcome: Miami completed 9-of-28 from 3-point vary, a night-and-day distinction from the 23-of-43 efficiency three days earlier. Warmth playmaker Tyler Herro — who had one of many best video games of his profession in Recreation 2, with 24 factors and 14 assists — seemed bothered all night time, capturing simply 5-of-16 for 15 factors and 4 turnovers. He shot 0-for-5 on contested seems to be, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Data knowledge.

The Warmth’s 84 factors had been their fewest in a recreation all season, common season or playoffs.

“They had been the extra bodily group. They bodied us [and] bullied us,” Spoelstra mentioned, including that Boston’s physicality repeatedly took the Warmth out of their offensive actions and units.

Boston turned its amplified protection into offense repeatedly Saturday, scoring 24 factors off Miami’s turnovers. The Warmth, against this, scored simply 4 factors off the Celtics’ miscues.

If the Celtics proceed to place their foot on the pedal the best way they did in Recreation 3, Miami — which knocked out Boston because the underdog in final yr’s convention finals — may discover it troublesome to mount a problem this time. Star wing Jimmy Butler stays out with an MCL sprain whereas guard Terry Rozier is sidelined with neck spasms. It leaves the Warmth, who already struggled to attain at occasions, with much less offensive creation towards ones of the league’s finest defending models.

“Now we have sufficient to get the job achieved,” Spoelstra mentioned. “We all know we’ve got to play exhausting, and we additionally need to play nicely.”