MIAMI – “It’s 1-1, we (about to) go up 2-1.”
Unlike Kevin Millar’s legendary “Don’t let us win tonight” proclamation during the 2004 ALCS, Jimmy Butler’s soundbite during Game 3 aged poorly, as the Celtics retook the series advantage with a 104-84 victory on the Heat’s home court.
It was just the reset the Celtics needed after a stunning 111-101 loss at TD Garden on Wednesday.
“We were confident that we would come down here and play better,” Jayson Tatum said.
The Celtics never trailed; the game was only tied once, less than two minutes in. Tatum (11 rebounds) and Jaylen Brown led the way, putting up 22 points apiece. Collectively, however, Boston was 15-for-21 from the free-throw line, and only 11-for-37 (29.7%) from deep, down from 44.9% in Game 1 and 37.5% in Game 2.
But with a 16-point night from Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis (18 points, five rebounds, two blocks) hitting his own reset button, the Celtics got the job done.
It was slow goings early on, with head coach Joe Mazzulla describing the first quarter as “a rock fight.”
Brown began the night 0-for-4, firing off shots with the eagerness of a player who knew he was only 39 points away from his 2,000th career postseason point, a milestone only reached by 10 players in franchise history. Tatum only put up two points – and missed a pair of free throws – in the first.
“Everybody knows how talented we are,” Tatum said, “But can we start off every game essentially punching first, and not reacting?”
He and Brown missed a combined three shots to begin the game before Porzingis opened the scoring with a three-pointer. After only putting up eight points in Game 2, Saturday was just what the doctor ordered; he matched that total four minutes into the first quarter.
“Probably the most important guy on our team for what we’re trying to accomplish,” Tatum said. “So no doubt in my mind, I knew he was going to have a better game and bounce back. And just the way he started out the game on both ends of the floor, being active when he’s protecting the rim, contesting shots, we’re a whole different team.”
“He was just embracing that physicality of the game, and he came out with that mindset,” said Brown. “That’s what we need him to do every night.”
Dominated by Porzingis & Co, Miami trailed 21-12 after the first, their lowest Q1 total since Game 4 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, also against the Celtics.
Tatum kicked off a faster-paced Q2 with his first three-pointer and by halftime, the Celtics were up 63-39. They held Miami to 27 and forced eight Heat turnovers, with Payton Pritchard’s work off the bench earning him rave reviews from his teammates.
“Payton is one of the most confident guys I’ve ever been around,” Tatum said. “Any given moment, he walks out there like he’s the best player, and to have that confidence, especially when we need him to be like that, being aggressive on both ends… and to have it off the bench, it’s special.”
“His energy has been fantastic for us all year,” Brown said. “Payton is a dog.”
The wide lead proved necessary, albeit briefly, when the Heat opened the second half on a brief tear. Once again, Porzingis put up a three to get things started, but after Jaime Jacquez Jr. answered with a layup, Brown’s eight points were all Boston could get as the Heat put up 15 in the first seven minutes of Q3, punctuated by a Bam Adebayo dunk.
White cooled them off towards the end, making back-to-back shots to halt the Heat and get Boston back on track. The Celtics piled it on in the fourth, leading 102-79 when they called a timeout with 3:42 to go. Tatum also passed Tony Parker to take third on the NBA’s list of most playoff points by a player under 27.
Without Butler and Terry Rozier, the Heat had a season-low scoring night, and it was Boston’s season-best in points allowed.
“That’s a really good defensive team and they try to force you to play in a crowd, so make sure that we knew what we were trying to get out of each action,” Tatum explained. “I think our attention to detail on the defensive end was a lot better.”
“I think we put an emphasis on defense, trying to make them uncomfortable a little bit,” Brown said.
As evidenced by the droves of Heat fans exiting the arena with minutes left on the clock, the Celtics did just that.
But if Brown is right, Game 3 was more of a jumping-off point than a reset.
“I feel like we’re still getting going,” he said. “I think we still got another gear to kick into.”
Game 4 is Monday in Miami.