Final: Heat 128, Celtics 102 - Embarrassing loss pushes Boston to the brink

Celtics vs. Heat

Game 3, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Kaseya Center

Line: Boston -4.5

Refs: Tony Brothers (#25), Kevin Scott (#24), Curtis Blair (#74)

Injuries: 

Boston- Gallinari (out). Miami- Tyler Herro (hand, out), Victor Oladipo (knee, out)

Projected Starters

Boston: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford

Miami: Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, Bam Adebayo

What I’m looking for

Lineup change: I’m betting on Mazzulla going with the small lineup after the tough start to Game 2 and the halftime adjustment. Boston’s entire flow runs off their offense, and starting Rob is bogging down their offense in this particular matchup. 

The vengeful Celtics: Nothing focuses these guys like this level of adversity, so I’m looking for them to come out with focus and purpose. The Celtics know full well what they need to do, they just have to do it … and this is the game they do it. 

“We have to rebound the ball. When you give a team second or third opportunities, that’s tough to recover from,” Tatum said “Getting good shots on the offensive end, not turning the ball over. Just stay in the moment, just take it one play at a time.”

Shot-making: We haven't seen the Celtics have a hot shooting night. They're too good to be cold for this long, so I’m expecting a little bit more from the outside shots tonight. 

How I think it will go:

I don’t think the Celtics are winning a close game, so if it’s close, they’ll lose. 

I don't expect them to lose. 

They love their adversity, these Celtics. And as much as I’m sick of saying that, this is who they are. I’ve said from the beginning that the only outcome of this series that would surprise me is Miami in 4 or 5, and I’m sticking to that. 

Whenever they’ve looked their best, they come out and play like crap. Whenever everyone writes them off, they flex and rip off a stretch of utterly dominant basketball. 

This is how it’s been, and I’m going to bet that this is how it will go until they prove otherwise. I say we see 40% shooting, a big early lead, a bigger halftime lead, and a cruise to the finish line complete with some garbage time. 

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.