Coming off a disastrous Game 2 loss in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, the Miami Heat bounced back with a truly improbable 109-103 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 3. The Heat built a 26-point cushion in the first half because of their phenomenal defense and spectacular outside shooting. Jimmy Butler missed the second half of this critical game, but Miami was able to hold off Boston's surge thanks in large part to a defense that forced 24 turnovers and a number of individual heroes.
Bam Adebayo led the charge with 31 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four steals after struggling in the first two contests. P.J. Tucker and Max Strus chipped in with 17 and 16 markers, respectively. The returning Kyle Lowry was terrific as a floor general and defensive menace as he contributed 11 points, six assists, and four steals.
The Heat will look to build on their superb victory for Game 4, but let's first look into these heroes of their Game 3 win.
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Heat Game 3 heroes vs. Celtics
Bam Adebayo
The national media was brutal toward Bam Adebayo because of his quiet performances in Game 1 and Game 2. The big men of the Celtics were outplaying him on both ends, and he wasn't replicating his success from the 2020 bubble.
However, that was not the case for Game 3. With Robert Williams on the sidelines, Adebayo was aggressive right from the beginning of the contest. In the first quarter, Adebayo recorded an instant 12 points, which were key in gaining a massive 21-point lead at the end of the frame.
Furthermore, Adebayo stifled a plethora of shots at the rim and proved that he deserved a First-Team All-Defensive spot this season. And in the end, Bam knocked down a clutch jumper with the shot clock running out that helped clinch the win.
The assertiveness of Adebayo to create offense for a team without Jimmy Butler and a hobbled Tyler Herro was vital to prevail over the resilient Celtics team.
P.J. Tucker
The stat sheet is usually not indicative of the effectiveness and value of P.J. Tucker, though in this game he provided some key numbers in the box score as well. He was remarkable while defending Jayson Tatum, playing a key role in holding him to just 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field. It was not a solo defensive masterpiece for Tucker, but his physicality and determination to prevent Tatum from getting into a rhythm was a major reason for this huge win for Miami.
Tucker sustained an injury to his leg in Game 1, but it hasn't forced him to miss any games in the series yet. Playing through minor pains and bruises shows his resolve and desire to give his utmost effort every game, especially in the playoffs.
Moreover, Tucker added some crucial offensive contributions, including timely buckets that stymied the run of the Celtics in the second half.
Max Strus
Right when it looked like the Celtics were going to pull off their comeback and overtake the Heat in the fourth quarter, Max Strus came to the rescue. With Miami clinging to a 93-92 lead, Strus buried a clutch 3-pointer with just over two minutes to play. He then played great defense on the other end to help force a turnover, with Bam knocking down his clutch jumper moments later to help seal the game. Strus put the finishing touches on the win with one last clutch bucket after a Kyle Lowry steal to finish with 16 points.
Strus has developed into a crucial piece for the Heat after taking Duncan Robinson's spot in the starting lineup earlier this season. His timely shooting and solid defense have become an asset after he bounced around the NBA to start his career. Miami will continue to need these contributions to win this series.
Kyle Lowry
Similar to Tucker, Kyle Lowry's impact on the floor was more than just the numbers. Lowry experienced a championship run with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, so he knows the hardships any franchise must encounter before capturing the elusive crown. Without Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro in the final minutes, Lowry made sure to put his teammates like Bam Adebayo and Max Strus in the perfect position to ice the game for Miami.
Lowry even stole the inbound pass of Grant Williams to increase the lead to nine with less than a minute remaining. Having Lowry on defense instead of Gabe Vincent or Tyler Herro brings a huge advantage to Miami because Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown don't get an easy mismatch in those situations. The brilliant awareness and vocal actions of Lowry elevated the confidence of his teammates and made it instrumental to steal home-court advantage back for the series.
With only one day between Game 3 and Game 4, the Heat are hoping to have Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro for Game 4. They cannot afford to continue utilizing a lineup with a subpar offensive unit, so they must be ready for the changes and adjustments of coach Ime Udoka and the Boston Celtics. This has been a back-and-forth series so far, and Miami must be ready for Boston to punch back again.
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