The Boston Celtics cooled down the Heat in a blowout Game 3 victory in Miami, 104-84, to take a 2-1 series lead. Head coach Joe Mazzulla challenged his team to increase their defensive intensity and they responded in Game 3.

As a result, the Celtics shutdown the Heat in the first quarter, only allowing them to score three points through the first six minutes of the game and 12-points on 5-of-21 shooting in the first quarter.

In Game 2, Boston allowed Miami to set a new franchise record by making 23 3-pointers in a postseason game. The Celtics responded in this game by being more physical and not giving them anymore easy looks from behind the arc, as the Heat finished 9-of-28 from deep in Game 3.

The biggest adjustment Boston made was to increase the defensive intensity, turning it into offense and making Miami pay by capitalizing on their mistakes. As a result, the Celtics made 24-points off of the Heat’s turnovers, the inverse of that was the Heat only scoring four-points off of the Celtics’ turnovers.

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra credited the Celtics’ defense during postgame, saying that they were able to “flatten” his team and they were physical.

“They were the more physical team. They bodied us, bullied us on screens. Got through stuff. Distorted screens. Everything. Flattened us out. They were the more physical team. The team with more physicality and force on both ends of the court.”

If the Celtics can continue to play with their foot on the pedal in Game 4, they should wrap this series up on Wednesday, sending Miami home on their own court like they did last year.

Game 4 is Monday at 7:00PM in Miami at the Kaseya Center.

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