Celtics (128-102): Miami spanks Boston

Carried by a brilliant collective and with an infernal address, the Heat corrected the Celtics in this Game 3 in South Beach. Victory 128 – 102 for Miami, which is only one game away from the NBA Finals.

For the home stat sheet of this match, it’s here.

Already back to the wall after losing its first two games at home, Boston knows there is now no room for error when arriving in Florida. As in the previous round against Philadelphia, Joe Mazzulla attempted a gamble by releasing Robert Williams III from his five in favor of Derrick White.

We expected a reaction of pride from the last NBA finalist but the start of the match remains very timid. Jaylen Brown shows more efficiency, Al Horford gets out of the woods a bit but the Heat’s shooters get going quickly to calm Boston. Excellent during Game 2, Caleb Martin still brings his stone to the building off the bench while Jimmy Butler puts himself at the service of the soldiers with hot hands.

Miami has no time for laughs. What gives an iron defense associated with an infernal skill (58% shooting and 43% from a distance in the first half!) ? A beating of course! Thanks to a great contribution from his bench, the Heat even allow themselves to take off with Jimmy Butler who is blowing. Bam Adebayo takes care of putting on a show for the fans, it’s happening for Erik Spoelstra’s men.

DUNCAN ROBINSON LOB TO BAM.

MIAMI IS ROLLING IN GAME 3 ON TNT pic.twitter.com/zbx9aG7pbn

— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2023

Opposite, Boston can’t do anything. Massachusetts men take on water. Fortunately for them, a little bit of improvement saves the furniture before the break, but there is a notch difference between the two teams. 61-46 Heat at halftime.

Back from the locker room, Miami resumes its demolition business and goes up a notch. Defensively, it still holds up well and in attack the circle is still the size of a swimming pool. The gap increases as in the first act. We expected a reaction of pride from Boston, but nothing came. There is only one team on the field, it becomes almost embarrassing. Bam Adebayo is not far from assassinating Jayson Tatum on a dunk, we came close to one of the actions of the Playoffs. During this time, Jimmy Butler allows himself to chamber Al Horford, it’s fair game.

Just in front of horford there is nothing to polish ???? pic.twitter.com/2C4GYstOdJ

— Nico TrashTalk ???? (@nicolasmeichel) May 22, 2023

30 points ahead before the money time, thank you goodbye. The coaches are not fooled, the suspense is dead and we are therefore entitled to a 12-minute garbage time. Enough to send the end of the bench to do a little sport. The fans may ask for Udonis Haslem, the veteran will sit quietly to enjoy this end of the match where Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent send a few last bomblets to confirm a fiery evening for the South Beach shooters: the team shot 19/35 from the parking lot!

Miami 3, Boston 0. A sentence that we could never have predicted in this series but it is a reality. The Celtics will now attempt to save honor and avoid the humiliation of a sweep. With one more home game to play and a comfortable lead, the Heat have never been closer to returning to the NBA Finals.