Celtics Crush Heat with Defensive Dominance, Regain Series Lead

Boston's Bounce-Back: Celtics answer Game 2 loss with a wire-to-wire defensive clinic.

Tatum & Brown Lead the Charge: Star duo fuels balanced scoring attack as Celtics retake home-court advantage.

Miami's Misery: Heat offense sputters, injuries continue to plague team.

 For two days, the Boston Celtics stewed over a home-court loss. In Game 3, they unleashed their frustration with a suffocating defensive performance that overwhelmed the Miami Heat, resulting in a resounding 104-84 Celtics victory and a 2-1 series lead.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led a balanced Boston attack with 22 points each. The Celtics never trailed, showcasing their trademark bounce-back mentality after losses.  "We played harder, we dictated the physicality," said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.

Miami's offense, hampered by injuries to Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, struggled mightily. The Heat never found a rhythm, with the Celtics' relentless defense forcing them into tough shots and turnovers.

"They took us out of what we wanted to do," admitted Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "They were the more physical team."

Boston's defensive intensity was reminiscent of their 2022 Eastern Conference Finals run.  The Heat's anemic 84-point total was their lowest output in over a year.

Game 4 looms large in Miami on Monday. Can the Heat find offensive answers and even the series, or will the Celtics' defensive prowess propel them closer to the second round?