Heat roll past Celtics 128-102, take 3-0 lead in Eastern Conference finals
MIAMI (AP) Erik Spoelstra had his team fully expecting that Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals would be extremely difficult, that the Miami Heat were going to have to take the best shot that a desperate bunch of Boston Celtics could muster.
He was wrong.
It was a Heat romp - and a team that had to pull off a frantic rally just to make the playoffs is now one win from the NBA Finals.
Gabe Vincent scored a career-high 29 points, Duncan Robinson added 22 and the eighth-seeded Heat rolled past the Celtics 128-102 on Sunday night. Miami leads the series 3-0, with a chance to finish off a stunning sweep on Tuesday night at home in Game 4,
“That was a solid, mature, professional approach,” said Spoelstra, now on the brink of a sixth trip to the NBA Finals as Miami's coach. “There's a lot of pent-up stuff here and we're getting closer, but we still have to finish this off.”
Caleb Martin scored 18, Jimmy Butler finished with 16, Bam Adebayo had 13 and Max Strus added 10 for Miami. Every team in NBA history that has won the first three games of a best-of-seven has ultimately prevailed; the Heat are 8-0 in that situation.
“The rim was as big as the ocean for everybody,” Adebayo said, after Miami shot 57%.
Jayson Tatum scored 14 and Jaylen Brown added 12 for the second-seeded Celtics, who won three times on Miami’s floor on the way to winning last season’s East finals - but simply never had a chance in this one and basically emptied the bench for the fourth quarter.
“I just didn’t have them ready to play,” said Boston coach Joe Mazzulla, who has been the subject of tons of criticism in this series - and will surely face more going into Tuesday. “Whatever it was, whether it was the starting lineup or an adjustment, I have to get them in a better place, ready to play. That’s on me.”
Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard each added 12 for Boston.
“To their credit, they’re playing well above their means,” Brown said. “They’re ballin’ right now and I’ve got to give them respect. Gabe Vincent, Martin, Strus, Duncan Robinson, guys that we should be able to keep under control are playing their (butt) off.”
The NBA Finals start June 1, and the way things are going, that might mean the league is about to go a few days without games. The Western Conference finals could end Monday; Denver leads that series against the Los Angeles Lakers 3-0. And now, the East finals could end Tuesday.
“It's the first to four games,” Vincent said. “We're not satisfied with three.”
There’s never been a season where both conference finals ended in sweeps; it happened in 1957 in the division finals immediately preceding the title series, when Boston beat Syracuse 3-0 and St. Louis beat Minneapolis 3-0.
Of all the 3-0 series leads in NBA history, this one might be the most unexpected - a No. 8 seed in the Heat, a team that struggled just to get into the playoffs, a team that was less than 3 minutes away from being eliminated in the play-in tournament, getting past top-seeded Milwaukee in five games, then fifth-seeded New York in six, and now on the brink of denying the Celtics a second consecutive East crown.
And the Heat let Boston know how much they were enjoying this one.
Mindful that Boston’s Al Horford directed a timeout signal toward the Miami bench during Game 1 when the Celtics were on a second-quarter spurt to build a comfortable lead, Butler did the same to Horford as the Heat were running away in the third quarter of Game 3.
Besides, the Heat rallied to win Game 1 anyway. There was no rally required in Game 3 by the Heat. There was barely one attempted by the Celtics, for that matter.
“I don't even know where to start,” Brown said. “It's an obvious letdown. I feel like we let our fan base, organization down. We let ourselves down. And it was collective. We can point fingers, but in reality, it was just embarrassing.”
Boston got within 61-49 when Marcus Smart had a three-point play on the opening possession of the second half. The rest was all Miami, which immediately answered with a 28-7 run to open a 33-point lead at 89-56, which had the building rolling. The lead was so big, and there was so much time left, that the sellout crowd of 20,088 actually was subdued a bit by the time it was over.
They might have been yelled-out. Or maybe they were saving it for hockey on Monday night, when the Florida Panthers - another No. 8 seed on a magical playoff run in South Florida - will try to take a 3-0 lead in their East finals series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
“We’ll decompress tomorrow,” Spoelstra said, “but we’ll really get our minds right to finish this thing off.”
TIP-INS
Celtics: Robert Williams made his first shot, meaning he made 12 straight to start the series. He missed his second attempt. … The Heat encourage fans to wear white to playoff games, and Tatum also arrived in an all-white suit.
Heat: Robinson made five 3-pointers and now has 124 in his Heat postseason career, passing LeBron James (123) for the most in Miami history. ... Butler’s steal with 7:17 left in the first quarter was the 2,000th in Heat postseason history. … Vincent's previous career best was 28, set in a Jan. 12 win over Milwaukee.
LOVE HURT
Miami’s Kevin Love checked out 4:47 into the game after what the Heat said was an undisclosed ankle injury. He went to the Heat locker room for evaluation, returned to the bench area later in the first half, but did not return to the game.
QUOTABLE
“The lack of mental toughness. It’s embarrassing … that was an embarrassment for the Celtics.” - TNT’s Charles Barkley at halftime, with Boston trailing 61-46 and after being down by as many as 22 points.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Al Horford vs. Bam Adebayo (Derrick White gains possession) | |||
11:42 | Derrick White misses two point driving layup | |||
11:41 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
11:28 | +2 | Kevin Love makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Gabe Vincent assists) | 0-2 | |
11:20 | Jaylen Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
11:18 | Jayson Tatum offensive rebound | |||
11:18 | Jayson Tatum misses two point tip layup | |||
11:17 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
11:07 | +3 | Kevin Love makes three point jump shot (Gabe Vincent assists) | 0-5 | |
10:50 | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point jump shot (Marcus Smart assists) | 3-5 | |
10:29 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point driving layup | 3-7 | |
10:18 | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | |||
10:18 | Kevin Love defensive rebound | |||
10:00 | Max Strus misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:57 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
9:52 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point running layup | 5-7 | |
9:35 | Bam Adebayo turnover (lost ball) (Jayson Tatum steals) | |||
9:31 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point running dunk (Derrick White assists) | 7-7 | |
9:09 | Kevin Love misses two point jump shot | |||
9:04 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
8:55 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point turnaround jump shot | 9-7 | |
8:26 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point pullup jump shot | 9-9 | |
8:14 | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Marcus Smart assists) | 12-9 | |
7:49 | Derrick White blocks Jimmy Butler's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:47 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
7:41 | Jayson Tatum misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
7:39 | Kevin Love defensive rebound | |||
7:29 | Jimmy Butler misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:26 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
7:17 | Jayson Tatum turnover (lost ball) (Jimmy Butler steals) | |||
7:13 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
7:03 | Derrick White personal foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | |||
6:55 | Max Strus misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:52 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
6:49 | Jaylen Brown turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
6:30 | +3 | Caleb Martin makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 12-12 | |
6:12 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Marcus Smart assists) | 14-12 | |
6:00 | +2 | Gabe Vincent makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 14-14 | |
5:48 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Marcus Smart assists) | 16-14 | |
5:36 | Bam Adebayo offensive foul (Off the ball) (Marcus Smart draws the foul) | |||
5:36 | Bam Adebayo turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:28 | Robert Williams III offensive foul (Off the ball) (Gabe Vincent draws the foul) | |||
5:28 | Robert Williams III turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:21 | Jaylen Brown personal foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
5:04 | +3 | Gabe Vincent makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 16-17 | |
4:50 | Malcolm Brogdon misses three point jump shot | |||
4:49 | Derrick White offensive rebound | |||
4:47 | Derrick White turnover (bad pass) (Max Strus steals) | |||
4:42 | Robert Williams III shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
4:42 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-18 | |
4:42 | Bam Adebayo misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:39 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving layup | |||
4:27 | Max Strus defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 16-21 | |
4:21 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
4:04 | Malcolm Brogdon misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:01 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
3:53 | Jimmy Butler turnover (bad pass) (Jayson Tatum steals) | |||
3:37 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point turnaround hook shot (Grant Williams assists) | 18-21 | |
3:10 | Bam Adebayo misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
3:07 | Malcolm Brogdon defensive rebound | |||
3:04 | Jayson Tatum turnover (lost ball) (Bam Adebayo steals) | |||
3:01 | Jayson Tatum personal foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
2:35 | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | |||
2:32 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
2:14 | +2 | Robert Williams III makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 20-21 | |
1:52 | +2 | Kyle Lowry makes two point driving floating jump shot (Caleb Martin assists) | 20-23 | |
1:39 | Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
1:34 | Robert Williams III offensive rebound | |||
1:33 | Robert Williams III misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
1:30 | Robert Williams III offensive rebound | |||
1:30 | Malcolm Brogdon misses three point jump shot | |||
1:29 | Heat defensive rebound | |||
1:29 | Grant Williams personal foul (Loose ball) (Max Strus draws the foul) | |||
1:29 | +1 | Max Strus makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-24 | |
1:29 | +1 | Max Strus makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-25 | |
1:05 | Grant Williams misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
1:05 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
1:05 | Max Strus personal foul (Loose ball) (Robert Williams III draws the foul) | |||
0:57 | Jaylen Brown misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:54 | Cody Zeller defensive rebound | |||
0:42 | +3 | Caleb Martin makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 20-28 | |
0:34 | Jaylen Brown turnover (lost ball) (Kyle Lowry steals) | |||
0:31 | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point running finger roll layup (Kyle Lowry assists) | 20-30 | |
0:15 | +2 | Robert Williams III makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Jayson Tatum assists) | 22-30 | |
0:15 | Kyle Lowry shooting foul (Robert Williams III draws the foul) | |||
0:15 | Robert Williams III misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
0:12 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Kyle Lowry misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:37 | +2 | Duncan Robinson makes two point driving layup | 22-32 | |
11:22 | Malcolm Brogdon misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
11:20 | Kyle Lowry defensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Gabe Vincent turnover (traveling) | |||
10:53 | Kyle Lowry personal foul (Marcus Smart draws the foul) | |||
10:41 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Al Horford assists) | 25-32 | |
10:27 | +2 | Duncan Robinson makes two point cutting layup (Bam Adebayo assists) | 25-34 | |
10:16 | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | |||
10:14 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
9:54 | Caleb Martin misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:51 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
9:43 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point driving layup (Derrick White assists) | 27-34 | |
9:22 | +2 | Gabe Vincent makes two point pullup jump shot | 27-36 | |
9:06 | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | |||
9:04 | Kyle Lowry defensive rebound | |||
8:53 | +3 | Gabe Vincent makes three point jump shot (Caleb Martin assists) | 27-39 | |
8:35 | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Malcolm Brogdon assists) | 30-39 | |
8:24 | +2 | Kyle Lowry makes two point pullup jump shot | 30-41 | |
8:09 | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
8:08 | Jayson Tatum offensive rebound | |||
8:07 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point tip layup | 32-41 | |
7:49 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point alley-oop dunk (Duncan Robinson assists) | 32-43 | |
7:39 | Marcus Smart misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:37 | Heat defensive rebound | |||
7:20 | +3 | Caleb Martin makes three point jump shot (Duncan Robinson assists) | 32-46 | |
7:20 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
7:12 | Kyle Lowry shooting foul (Marcus Smart draws the foul) | |||
7:12 | +1 | Marcus Smart makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-46 | |
7:12 | Marcus Smart misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:09 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
7:09 | Jaylen Brown misses two point tip layup | |||
7:09 | Heat defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point driving dunk (Duncan Robinson assists) | 33-48 | |
6:35 | Jaylen Brown turnover (lost ball) (Jimmy Butler steals) | |||
6:29 | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point running jump shot (Bam Adebayo assists) | 33-51 | |
6:05 | Marcus Smart misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:02 | Kyle Lowry defensive rebound | |||
5:58 | Duncan Robinson misses three point running jump shot | |||
5:56 | Marcus Smart defensive rebound | |||
5:56 | Marcus Smart offensive foul (Kyle Lowry draws the foul) | |||
5:56 | Marcus Smart turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:50 | Jaylen Brown personal foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
5:41 | Robert Williams III shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
5:41 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-52 | |
5:41 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-53 | |
5:27 | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
5:26 | Robert Williams III offensive rebound | |||
5:25 | Robert Williams III misses two point tip layup | |||
5:25 | Robert Williams III offensive rebound | |||
5:25 | Robert Williams III misses two point tip layup | |||
5:23 | +2 | Robert Williams III makes two point putback layup | 35-53 | |
5:23 | Marcus Smart technical foul | |||
5:23 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 35-54 | |
5:06 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point driving layup | 35-56 | |
4:59 | Gabe Vincent personal foul (Marcus Smart draws the foul) | |||
4:49 | Jaylen Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
4:45 | Cody Zeller defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | Duncan Robinson misses three point jump shot | |||
4:27 | Marcus Smart defensive rebound | |||
4:14 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup | 37-56 | |
3:59 | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point jump shot (Caleb Martin assists) | 37-59 | |
3:42 | +2 | Grant Williams makes two point driving layup (Marcus Smart assists) | 39-59 | |
3:20 | Derrick White blocks Caleb Martin's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:17 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
3:10 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Marcus Smart assists) | 42-59 | |
3:10 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
2:48 | Caleb Martin misses three point jump shot | |||
2:45 | Grant Williams defensive rebound | |||
2:23 | Jayson Tatum misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
2:19 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
2:18 | Jaylen Brown misses two point putback layup | |||
2:16 | Max Strus defensive rebound | |||
2:11 | Jimmy Butler turnover (bad pass) (Derrick White steals) | |||
2:05 | Derrick White misses two point running finger roll layup | |||
2:04 | Grant Williams offensive rebound | |||
2:03 | +2 | Grant Williams makes two point tip layup | 44-59 | |
1:44 | Gabe Vincent misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:41 | Derrick White defensive rebound | |||
1:36 | Cody Zeller blocks Derrick White's two point running layup | |||
1:36 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
1:30 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 44-61 | |
1:30 | Grant Williams shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
1:30 | Jimmy Butler misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
1:23 | Marcus Smart defensive rebound | |||
1:17 | Caleb Martin personal foul (Marcus Smart draws the foul) | |||
1:07 | Jaylen Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
1:04 | Max Strus defensive rebound | |||
0:43 | Jimmy Butler misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:40 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | +2 | Marcus Smart makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 46-61 | |
0:24 | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | |||
0:22 |