Here's What Stood Out in Game 3 Loss to Heat: Celtics on Brink of Elimination After Worst Performance This Postseason

A Celtics season filled with championship hopes is down to its last breath.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

A Celtics season filled with championship hopes is down to its last breath after an underwhelming playoff run reached a new low Sunday night.

Dropping Game 5 to the Hawks at TD Garden with Dejounte Murray suspended was unacceptable. By the way, Boston led by 12 entering the fourth quarter of that contest.

Collapsing late in the series opener against a Sixers team missing Joel Embiid was uncharacteristic of a championship team. Getting torched in Game 5 against Philadelphia because, as the Celtics put it, they wanted to win so much it became counterproductive is also not a trait you see from a champion.

And after crumbling in crunch time in two-straight home contests to open the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston responded with its worst performance in this postseason. Considering the stakes, expectations, and talent on this team, it's one of the worst playoff showings in franchise history.

In Game 3 against the Heat, there was a lack of resistance, energy, fight, heart, and shot-making.

The Celtics trailed 61-46 at the end of the first half. That's their lowest point production and most sizable deficit at halftime of any postseason game this year. 

And in the third frame, the hosts got their guests to tap out, growing the lead as high as 33 before entering the final 12 minutes with a 30-point advantage.

With Joe Mazzulla waving the white flag, holding Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, among others, out of the last period, Boston's MVP candidate is scoreless in the fourth quarter of the first three games in this year's Eastern Conference Finals.

Neither All-NBA wing scored 15 points, combining for 26, with Tatum finishing with 14 and Brown only manufacturing 12.

The Celtics faring 11/42 (26.2 percent) from beyond the arc didn't help matters either.

The bottom line is a potential title run defined by squandering golden opportunities seems poised to end on Tuesday. Maybe it doesn't. Perhaps Boston shows the necessary fight to extend its season. Game 4 could see the Celtics finally solve Miami's zone defense, which might shift the momentum in this series as it returns to TD Garden.

But as the deep dive below into what stood out Sunday drives home, what's unfolding on the court suggests this team is one game from starting its summer vacation.

1. The double-big lineup isn't Boston's best option this series, so it's no surprise the Celtics downsized to better match up with Miami to start Game 3.

The visitors brought Derrick White back into the starting unit in place of Robert Williams, giving them a first five of White, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford.

Regarding the Time Lord going to the bench, doing so makes it easier for Boston to manage its rotation as the game unfolds. What matters more is that between Williams and Horford, whoever is most deserving should play more, especially in the fourth quarter.

2. After a quiet first two games, Jaylen Brown getting off to a hot start Sunday night was a welcome sign. The All-NBA wing led all scorers with eight points in the first frame, repeatedly doing damage from the mid-range.

Jaylen with 8 pts on 4/5 FGs already 👏 pic.twitter.com/ptb92YgiS1

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 22, 2023

The visitors were also wise to get him a post-up opportunity, allowing him to go to work with minimal dribbling and not having to try to slice through multiple defenders while going downhill.

3. The Celtics gave up 18 points by the 7:20 mark to begin the second period. In case you were wondering, that's atrocious.

There was no resistance, including when Kyle Lowry weaved into the middle of the paint for a fadeaway jumper. And they again struggled to stay attached to Duncan Robinson, twice leading to layups.

And with Boston worried about cutting off his water, Erik Spoelstra dialed up a pick-and-roll between Robinson and Bam Adebayo, which also hurt the defending Eastern Conference champions in the first two games. The action resulted in the former lofting a lob to the latter for an alley-oop that extended the hosts' advantage to 48-33 with 6:51 left in the first half.

THROW IT DOWN BAM 💥 pic.twitter.com/zuuAEqlu7J

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 22, 2023

4. Marcus Smart was at his worst in the second quarter. He dribbled into Lowry in the backcourt, trying to grift his way to a foul; instead, he blew up a transition opportunity and got called for an offensive foul.

The fiery floor general also rushed down the floor and took multiple shots that missed. And he picked up a technical for voicing his displeasure with the lack of a foul call as Robert Williams laid the ball in shortly after Smart got whistled for that offensive foul for dribbling into Lowry.

5. The Celtics entered halftime trailing 61-46. It's their lowest point production in the first half of any playoff game this year. It's also their most sizable deficit after 24 minutes this postseason.

The good news is they outscored the Heat 19-5 to end the second frame. And overcoming being down 15 with 24 minutes remaining is plenty doable.

6. But the hosts played harder and were more active in the first two quarters. While Miami put at least 30 points on the board in each period, Boston produced less than 25 in both, and the visitors' defense often lacked resistance and the necessary physicality to get stops.

The Heat shot 57.5 percent from the field in the first half, including 9/21 (42.9 percent) from beyond the arc. The Celtics shooting 5/16 (31.3 percent) from three-point range also hurt their cause.

And with Caleb Martin (11 points) and Robinson (10) leading the way, Miami's second unit outscored Boston's 25-10. Malcolm Brogdon, one of the Celtics' better players this series, was scoreless on 0/4 shooting at halftime.

7. The third frame saw the Heat snatch their opponent's heart. They chucked threes without purpose, then couldn't get one to go down when they created quality looks from beyond the arc, went scoreless for over three minutes, got beat down the floor by Cody Zeller, and lacked energy and physicality.

Boston made 1/13 threes in the third quarter, committed four turnovers, and got outscored 32-17. The visitors got down by as much as 33 and entered the final 12 minutes trailing 93-63.

Tatum and Brown were a combined 1/14 from behind the arc through 36 minutes.

8. By starting the fourth quarter with Smart flanked by Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Grant Williams, and Luke Kornet, Joe Mazzulla waved the white flag as the defending Eastern Conference champions fell into an 0-3 hole with a 128-102 loss.

Up Next

Game 4 between the Celtics and Heat is Tuesday night at the Kaseya Center; tip-off is at 8:30 ET. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the matchup before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

Celtics Prepared to Flip the Script in Miami: 'Should Make for a Better Story'

Celtics React to Letting 12-Point Lead Slip in Fourth Quarter of Game 2 Loss to Heat: 'We Let Everybody Down'

Grant Williams Reacts to Heated Altercation with Jimmy Butler

Here's What Stood Out in Game 2 Loss: Celtics Blow 12-Point Fourth-Quarter Lead, Go to Miami Down 0-2

Joe Mazzulla Reflects on Celtics' Latest Third-Quarter Letdown: 'We Have to Have the Understanding You Just Can't Relax'

Marcus Smart Defends Joe Mazzulla's Strategy After Game 1 Loss to Miami Heat

Celtics Discuss Heat Outscoring Them 46-25 in Third Quarter of Game 1: 'We Allowed Them to Do What They Wanted'

Celtics Address 'Letting Go of the Rope' After Game 1 Loss to Heat

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Loss: Heat's Third-Quarter Haymaker Propels Them to 1-0 Lead

Jaylen Brown Discusses Whether Making an All-NBA Team Provides Clarity About His Future