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After securing two impressive wins on the road to start off the Conference Finals, the Miami Heat faced a determined Boston Celtics team eager to avoid falling into a dreaded 3-0 deficit. However, the Celtics’ sense of urgency quickly fizzled out as the Heat dismantled them in a lopsided victory, winning 128-102.
The Celtics, who had led for a mere three minutes in the first quarter, struggled to regain control of the game. The turning point came during the third quarter when the Heat launched a stunning 29-7 scoring run, pushing their lead to a whopping 33 points. This marked the second-largest deficit in a playoff loss in Celtics franchise history.
Miami showcased their offensive prowess throughout the game, draining an impressive 19 three-pointers, just one shy of their franchise record. They shot a remarkable 54% from behind the arc and 56% from the field, consistently scoring 30 points or more in all four quarters. Despite facing a significant rebounding discrepancy (57-35) and allowing 21 offensive rebounds, the Heat stifled the Celtics defensively, limiting them to a dismal 39% shooting from the field and 26% from three-point range.
Gabe Vincent, who struggled in the previous game, bounced back with an exceptional offensive performance, leading the way for the Heat with 29 points. Duncan Robinson contributed 22 points, while Caleb Martin added 18 points to the scoreboard. Surprisingly, Miami managed to secure a convincing victory without significant offensive contributions from their star duo, Jimmy Butler (16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) and Bam Adebayo (13 points).
On the Celtics’ side, Jayson Tatum led the team with 14 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Jaylen Brown, Grant Williams, and Payton Pritchard, each scoring 12 points. The Celtics now face a daunting challenge, as the Heat stand on the verge of advancing to their second NBA Finals in the past four years during the Jimmy Butler era. A potential matchup with the Denver Nuggets awaits Miami.
Unfortunately for the Celtics, the odds are stacked against them. Throughout NBA history, no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a series. In fact, out of the 149 series played with a team up 3-0, all of them have ended with the leading team winning. Only three teams have managed to force a Game 7 after being down 3-0, with the most recent occurrence happening in 2003 when the Portland Trail Blazers pushed the Dallas Mavericks to the brink.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat have their sights set on completing their redemption arc in front of their passionate fans. Their victory over the Celtics could potentially mark Boston’s last game of the series, as the Heat aim to continue their historic season and strive to become the first eighth seed to capture the illustrious Larry O’Brien Trophy with the opportunity to etch their names in NBA history.
For more sports coverage from MLB, NBA, NFL, to NCAA contact Julian Ojeda at 786-501-9082 or via email julian@communitynewspapers.com
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