The Miami Heat are on the verge of reaching the NBA Finals after a comfortable 128-102 win over the Boston Celtics in game three of the Eastern Conference finals. The Heat now hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and will host game four on Tuesday, aiming to secure their place in the finals.
Point guard Gabe Vincent led the charge for the Heat with 29 points, including six three-pointers. Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin contributed 22 and 18 points respectively off the bench, stepping up after veteran Kevin Love exited the game early due to an ankle injury. Star forward Jimmy Butler had a relatively quiet night with 16 points, as the Heat dominated on both ends of the floor.
Miami set the tone early, ending the first quarter with a 9-2 scoring run to take a 30-22 lead. They extended their advantage to 22 points in the second quarter. Although the Celtics attempted a comeback, they struggled with their three-point shooting, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown having a combined 1-for-14 performance from beyond the arc. Turnovers also plagued Boston, and they faced their largest halftime deficit of the postseason, trailing 61-46.
The Celtics were unable to mount a comeback, as Miami entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 93-63 lead. Boston endured a scoring drought of over three minutes in the third period. The result leaves the Celtics in a dire situation, as no team in NBA history has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series.
Miami’s Gabe Vincent expressed satisfaction with their performance but emphasized the need to stay focused for the next game. Boston’s Jaylen Brown described the loss as embarrassing and felt they had let down their fan base and organization.
The winners of the Heat vs. Celtics series will face either the Denver Nuggets or the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. The Nuggets also hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals, with game four scheduled for Monday.
