Celtics’ defense answers call in blowout of Heat in Game 3

MIAMI — After maybe essentially the most stunning results of the postseason to this point — the short-handed, No. 8-seeded Miami Warmth beating the No. 1-seeded Boston Celtics in Recreation 2 to tie their first-round collection — it was pure to surprise 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 components 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 have been much more energetic and bodily defensively Saturday night time 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.

“Everyone is aware of how proficient we’re. However can we be the more durable, harder-playing workforce?” mentioned Tatum, who completed with 22 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. “If we are able to mix that with the expertise, it is going to be arduous to beat us.

“Can we begin off each recreation, basically, punching first as an alternative of reacting? That is a check now we have to be up for each single night time.”

The Celtics’ response to Mazzulla’s problem was prompt. Guard Jrue Vacation and his teammates locked in early towards the Warmth’s 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 taking pictures within the first quarter, which Mazzulla referred to as “a bodily, robust … rock combat.”

Boston was blissful to create these sorts of situations defensively by pushing up additional on that aspect of the ball. Brown, who matched Tatum with 22 factors, mentioned the Celtics got here in with a handful of guidelines after the Warmth’s record-setting exhibiting in Recreation 2.

“No ‘dare’ pictures. Respect these guys’ functionality. They’re NBA gamers, and so they can get scorching 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 — appeared bothered all night time, taking pictures simply 5-of-16 for 15 factors and 4 turnovers. He was 0-for-5 on contested appears to be like, in response to ESPN Stats & Data.

The Warmth’s 84 factors have been their fewest in a recreation all season (together with playoffs).

“They have been the extra bodily workforce. 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 12 months’s convention finals — may discover it tough 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 instances, with much less offensive creation towards one of many NBA’s finest defending models.

“We have now sufficient to get the job completed,” Spoelstra mentioned. “We all know now we have to play arduous, and we additionally must play effectively.”