Final: Celtics 117, Heat 106 -- We have a series

Celtics built a double-digit lead in the first half yet again in Game 3 but did not lose their poise for the first time in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the C’s cruised to a win over the Heat Saturday night. Jaylen Brown set the tone for the effort with a game-high 26 points, 7 rebounds and a postseason career-high 5 assists. Jayson Tatum added 25 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists as the C’s dominated the game in the paint (60-36 edge) for the majority of 48 minutes to earn their first win of the series. Kemba Walker also posted 21 points and 6 rebounds in the win.

Boston’s defense also loomed large in the win as they held Miami to 40 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range. Marcus Smart moved onto Goran Dragic (11 points, 2/9 FG) defensively and held the Celtics hold him incheck for the first time all series. Tyler Herro (22 points) was red-hot in the first half but struggled through the second half as the Heat got no closer than five points in the final minute.

The C’s now get three days of rest before a pivotal Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Gordon Hayward shows little rust in return: The veteran wing made his return from a five-week absence and played 30 minutes in what was a very impactful outing. He only scored 6 points but packed the box score with 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block, helping the C’s reduce their minutes for the rest of the bench while maintaining multiple scoring threats on the floor at all times.

First Half Notes

TURNING POINT

The Celtics closed the half on a 11-2 run fueled by the Celtics going small with their five best players to give them their biggest lead of the game heading into intermission.

TWO UP

Jaylen Brown:  The swingman played arguably his best half of the postseason so far, posting a team-high 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. Seven of those makes came inside the arc. Brown’s defense was a game-changer as well early with two steals and a block that led to 12 fast break points for Boston

Jayson Tatum: The All-Star showed off some unselfish play in the first half, posting seven assists by the break on top of a team-high 7 rebounds and 13 points.

TWO DOWN

Daniel Theis: The big man missed a number of point blank k shots down low (2-of-5) and piled up three fouls in 16 minutes.

3-point shooting:  Outside of Kemba Walker (2-of-4), the Celtics shot 20 percent from 3-point range in the first half, their own weak part of the offense early.

INJURY REPORT

Gordon Hayward returned to the court for the first time midway through the first quarter and played a productive 15 minutes, filling up the box score with 3 rebounds, 2 assists a steal and a block.

TOP PLAY

Block ➡️ HAMMER ? pic.twitter.com/Z8okXuioZe

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 20, 2020

• Gordon Hayward is expected to suit up for the first time since suffering a Grade 3 ankle sprain in the opening game of the 2020 postseason for Boston. Romeo Langford has been ruled out for the game after suffering a groin strain in the first quarter of Game 2. Javonte Green is probable to return to the active roster for the first time after undergoing knee surgery last month.


• Just 6.4 percent of teams (27 of 423) in NBA postseason history have overcome a 0-2 hole and gone on to win a seven-game series. The odds improve slightly in the Conference Finals for teams playing catchup with 10.3 percent of teams pulling off the 2-0 comeback, including the last two Eastern Conference champions (Toronto vs. Milwaukee, Cleveland vs. Boston).


• The Celtics were one of those teams to come back from down 0-2 in the past decade as the top-seeded Celtics in 2017 fought back against Jimmy Butler's Bulls to win four straight games to win the series after dropping the first two games at the Garden.


• Analysis: How Gordon Hayward's return can help the Celtics solve the Heat zone


• BETUS.COM Celtics-Heat Game 3: Betting Odds, Preview and Prediction


• Podcast: Celtics-Heat analysis on Sports Hub Celtics Show