Celtics vs. Heat score, takeaways: Bam Adebayo leads Miami to crucial Game 3 win despite loss of Jimmy Butler

The Miami Warmth stormed out to a 26-point lead over the Boston Celtics in Sport 3 on Saturday night time solely to carry on for a 109-103 victory at TD Backyard following a livid rally from the house crew through the second half after Jimmy Butler had been dominated out of the sport with knee irritation. In the long run, Butler’s absence through the ultimate two quarters was not sufficient for Boston to tug off the comeback as Bam Adebayo completed the win with a team-high 31 factors to go together with 10 rebounds, six assists and 4 steals. 

On the opposite finish of the spectrum, Jaylen Brown was implausible for Boston ending the sport with 40 factors and 9 rebounds. Whereas Al Horford and Marcus Good mixed for 36 factors, 18 rebounds and 10 assists, the Celtics had been unable to beat a poor capturing night time from Jayson Tatum because the All-Star struggled mightily from the sphere ending simply 3-for-14 for the night time. 

With the win, Miami takes a 2-1 lead over Boston with Sport 4 approaching Monday night time. 

Listed here are 4 key takeaways from the sport:

1. Accidents take middle stage once more

It has sadly been unimaginable to speak about this postseason, and this sequence particularly, with out discussing accidents. Marcus Good, Al Horford, Derrick White and Robert Williams have all missed a recreation on this sequence for the Celtics, whereas Kyle Lowry didn’t play within the first two video games for the Warmth. 

The issue solely acquired worse on Saturday, as Good, Jayson Tatum and Jimmy Butler all made their method to the locker room at varied factors. Most notably, Butler didn’t play within the second half attributable to knee irritation. He ought to be OK transferring ahead, nonetheless. Warmth head coach Erik Spoelstra stated he will not want an MRI, and per USA As we speak, Butler will not miss any extra time. 

Good and Tatum really returned to the sport, even if their accidents appeared extra extreme. Early within the second quarter, Good suffered a nasty trying ankle sprain that was made worse when Lowry inadvertently rolled over his leg. In a while, Tatum acquired a stinger throughout a scramble for a unfastened ball, and stayed down for a couple of minutes in severe ache. Following the sport, Celtics head coach Ime Udoka stated Good and Tatum ought to each be good to go transferring ahead. 

2. Adebayo exhibits up

Bam Adebayo made his third straight All-Defensive crew look this season, and would have been an All-Star and doubtlessly even the Defensive Participant of the Yr if he did not miss an prolonged stretch with a thumb damage. Within the first two video games of this sequence, although, he was largely invisible, ending with a complete of 16 factors, 13 rebounds and three assists. 

That each one modified in Sport 3. Adebayo got here out like a person on a mission. He was demanding the ball early and sometimes, and hitting an array of mid-range jumpers and pictures across the rim. He almost matched his whole from the primary two video games within the first quarter of this one, as he had 12 factors to assist the Warmth construct an early double-digit lead.

Late within the recreation, with Butler out of fee, he stepped up once more. He scored eight factors within the fourth quarter to carry off the Celtics’ comeback try, together with a shocking off-balance jumper to beat the shot clock with 1:23 remaining. That shot pushed the Warmth’s lead again as much as six and ended up being the dagger. 

By the ultimate buzzer, Adebayo had 31 factors, 10 rebounds, six assists and 4 steals in by far his finest efficiency of the complete postseason. The Warmth are going to want Adebayo taking part in like this in the event that they wish to end the job in opposition to the Celtics — particularly if Butler is not one hundred pc. 

3. Lowry makes an influence in his return

Kyle Lowry had not performed since Sport 4 of the Warmth’s second-round sequence with the Philadelphia 76ers attributable to a hamstring damage, and there was no clear timeline for when he may be again. It turned out he was prepared for Sport 3, and his return got here on the excellent time for the Warmth. 

Whereas Lowry is much from his peak, he is nonetheless a significant a part of this Warmth crew. This was a prototypical Lowry efficiency, as his stats weren’t that spectacular — 11 factors, one rebound, six assists, 4 steals on 4-of-11 capturing — however he completed plus-10. got here up with well timed performs and acquired the Warmth beneath management. 

Working example was his steal with 48 seconds remaining. Whereas the remainder of the Warmth retreated after a made free throw, Lowry got here flying in to steal a lazy inbounds cross from Grant Williams, then discovered Max Strus for a layup that ended any hope the Celtics nonetheless had. 

The Warmth are simply higher when Lowry is on the ground. 

4. Celtics solely have themselves responsible

The Warmth had been terrific to begin this recreation, and deserve plenty of credit score for a way they began after which managed to hold on down the stretch with out Jimmy Butler. That being stated, the Celtics might have, and doubtless ought to have gained this recreation. They shot 16 extra free throws, Butler did not play within the second half and so they had the deficit down to at least one, however they could not get it executed and so they solely have themselves responsible. 

As soon as once more, the most important points had been turnovers and careless play. They weren’t targeted nor able to match the Warmth’s depth to begin the sport, which ought to by no means occur at house within the Jap Convention finals. And whereas they finally acquired again into the sport, they by no means really settled down. 

That they had a whopping 23 turnovers, together with 13 from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — essentially the most these two have ever mixed for in a recreation collectively. The Warmth took benefit in a significant means, scoring 33 factors — over 30 % of their whole offense — off these turnovers. In a recreation they misplaced by simply six, the Celtics gifted the Warmth 33 factors. 

Along with the turnovers, the Celtics acquired one other dud from Tatum, who completed with simply 10 factors to tie his lowest-scoring recreation of the postseason. He shot 3-of-14 from the sphere and had twice as many turnovers as made baskets. And that does not even have in mind his shoulder damage. Tatum has been spectacular at occasions within the playoffs, however he is inclined to those nightmare video games that the Celtics can not afford. If he has a good midway first rate efficiency, they win this recreation.