#Heat #win #Boston #victory #guts #heart
Winner of the Celtics in Game 3 tonight, the Heat had an ultra-dominant start to the game to build on their 109-103 success. But as the game progressed, the adversity grew and so did the pressure inflicted by Boston (and the umpires). But Erik Spoelstra’s men did not collapse!
When Marcus Smart walked out of the locker room to a standing ovation after his ankle injury and then planted a 3-pointer in the corner, we thought the game was about to turn in Boston’s favor. Led by 26 pawns during the first period, the Celtics found themselves just ten units behind with all the momentum in the world going for them, plus in a seething TD Garden. Many teams would have logically collapsed from this precise moment, especially without the presence of their best player. But not Miami. While Jimmy Butler was out for the entire second period, the Heat withstood the green wave for the first time. From Victor Oladipo to Bam Adebayo through Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker or even Tyler Herro (who had a tough night but scored four of his eight points late in the third quarter), Erik Spoelstra’s side remarkably weathered the storm to recover control of operations. The Heat came back on the field in the second half with a 15-point lead, ending the third quarter with a 15-point lead, despite the many setbacks that occurred during these crazy twelve minutes.
Boston’s second big wave came in the fourth quarter. Driven in particular by a Jaylen Brown on fire and by the return of a Jayson Tatum who did his best Paul Pierce imitation (exit due to injury and miraculous return a few minutes later…), the Celtics managed to come back from a small Miami point with less than three minutes to go. Once again, we told each other that it didn’t smell too good for the residents of Sud Plage, Boston had never been this close to taking the lead in this Game 3. But once again, Bam Adebayo and his friends held on. With the heart obviously, but not only. Thanks also to the execution, as well as the talent and that ability to make the big plays at the right time. With only +1 on the scoreboard, Miami planted Lowry’s killer shot on this serve to Max Strus (16 points), author of a crucial winning shot outside the net after a screen by Adebayo. And then it was the latter who broke the hearts of Celtics fans with a dagger over the head of Al Horford at the end of the 24-second clock, to give the Floridians a six-point lead. Boston never managed to recover, then the Heat closed the shop with skill at the free throw line and thanks to a great interception by Kyle Lowry (one of … 19 made by Miami), an interception that perfectly symbolizes the game.
This is a perfect clip to encapsulate the Celtics’ sloppiness in this game, Lowry in a rush to steal the ball out of bounds and find Strus for the layup. 24 total turnovers for 33 heat points, 19 live turnovers. pic.twitter.com/HGRdHvh9Oe
—Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) May 22, 2022
This win is a 100% Heat basketball win. This is the victory of a group that did not crack when everything was ready to collapse. To sum it up quickly: Jimmy Butler out in the second half, a tough and diminished Tyler Herro, a hostile environment, the Celtics in revolt, Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker not sure they were playing, all with plus the umpires who obviously they wanted to witness a tight end to the game because of the whistles that were given (30 free throws for Boston, only 14 for Miami, including nine in the last minute when the C’s had to foul) or forgotten in this game Whatever it is in the end, Miami managed to come through all of that brilliantly, once again proving the mental soundness of this team. perfectly prepared for the big games of the Playoffs. For that veterans like Lowry (11 points, 6 assists, 4 steals) and Tucker (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) can serve, two guys with champion DNA and whose impact is enormous despite not being 100% today. For this reason, Pat Riley wanted to give Victor Oladipo a chance, hyper valuable through his defense after the departure of Jimmy Butler. That’s why he charges 30 million a year to Bam Adebayo, he who took a big step forward after a difficult start to the series. That’s why the Miami Heat is the Miami Heat, a franchise that is now just two wins away from qualifying for the NBA Finals in the last three seasons. #HeatCulture
Unrecognizable during Game 2 at home two days ago, the Heat got their colors back in full on Saturday. A reaction from the boss despite the not very favorable circumstances that accompanied this meeting. Some teams just know how to win, and Miami is one of them.