Boston Celtics fall to Miami Heat 109-103 in Game 3 after dramatic fourth quarter comeback stalls due to turnovers

BOSTON — The Miami Heat took command of the game from the opening tip and led the entire way in Game 3, holding off a late charge for a 109-103 road victory over the Boston Celtics. The win gives Miami a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 upcoming in Boston.

Bam Adebayo led the way for Miami with 31 points, while Jaylen Brown had a game-high 40 points for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum had his worst game of the series, scoring just 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting while also suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him for part of the fourth quarter before returning. Boston had a postseason-high 24 turnovers that led to 33 Heat points.

The visitors outplayed and outworked Boston on both ends of the floor in a dominant first quarter, outscoring the hosts 39-18 with sensational shot-making and attacking in transition off of a plethora of Celtics miscues. It was the highest-scoring quarter of the postseason for the Heat

Miami pushed their lead to as many as 26 points in the second quarter before a 10-0 Celtics run to close the first half cut the lead to 15 points and brought life to a TD Garden crowd.

With Jimmy Butler sidelined (right knee inflammation) for the second half, the Celtics appeared to have a golden opportunity to play their way back into the game right away. However, Miami’s regulars held strong in the third quarter, slowing down Boston’s run by forcing seven third quarter turnovers, including five by Jaylen Brown alone. Marcus Smart also returned to the game after an apparent right knee injury but the momentum his return created failed to sustain amid the miscues.

Boston finally broke through in the final frame, getting within one point of the Heat at 93-92 after Jaylen Brown nailed a 3-pointer with just over two minutes remaining. However, the Heat responded with a 7-0 run in the next minute with clutch buckets from Adebayo and Max Strus to put the game away.

The Celtics will host Game 4 of the series on Monday night at TD Garden.

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