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Celtics vs. Heat score, results: Bam Adebayo dominates Game 3 as Heat take 2-1 series lead

Benyam Kidane

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Celtics vs. Heat score, results: Bam Adebayo dominates Game 3 as Heat take 2-1 series lead image

The Miami Heat held off a furious second-half comeback from the Boston Celtics to secure a 109-103 win at TD Garden.

Bam Adebayo bounced back in style, pouring in 31 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals to give the Heat a 2-1 series lead. 

After leading by as many as 26 points, the Heat saw their lead cut to just one point late in the fourth quarter, before clamping down on defense to seal the win. 

Jimmy Butler exited the game at half-time due to right knee inflammation, but there is optimism he will not miss any games. 

Jaylen Brown carried the Celtics offense on the night, going off for 40 points and nine rebounds, with Boston dealing with injuries to Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum. 

Both Smart (ankle) and Tatum (shoulder) went back to the locker room hurt, before returning to the game. 

The Sporting News tracked all of the action from Game 3 below.

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Celtics vs. Heat score

Game 3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Celtics 18 29 25 31 103
Heat 39 23 25 22 109

Celtics vs. Heat live updates, highlights from Game 3

FINAL: Heat 109, Celtics 103

11:18 p.m.— That's game for the Heat. After the Celtics go to within six points with 40 seconds remaining, free throws from Oladipo and Tucker, plus an Adebayo dunk shut the door on Game 3. 

11:10 p.m. — Make that 40 POINTS for Jaylen Brown! 

11:04 p.m. — Victor Oladipo has made a huge impact on the game in place of Butler, setting the tone for Miami on the defensive end. 

11:02 p.m. — Big shot from Max Strus! his fourth 3-pointer of the game gives Miami a 96-92 lead with 2:16 to go. 

11:01 p.m. — The turnovers continue to plague the Celtics as they give the Heat another easy possession. Miami has now scored 31 points off 23 Boston turnovers. 

11:00 p.m. — JAYLEN BROWN MAKES IT A ONE-POINT GAME!

10:59 p.m. — Now Jayson Tatum has returned to the Celtics bench. He checks back into the game with 3:40 remaining. 

10:58 p.m. — Jaylen Brown is willing the Celtics back into the contest, making it a five-point game with five minutes remaining. Here we go!

10:51 p.m. — The injuries are piling up in this game, with Jayson Tatum now back in the locker room. 

Tatum went down, grabbing his shoulder after a collision with Victor Oladipo.

10:45 p.m. — Ime Udoka successfully challenges a foul call on Grant Williams, to keep him in the game with four fouls. 

10:40 p.m. — Grant Williams buries his first shot of the game to cut it to single digits once again. Miami leads 89-80.

End of third quarter: Heat 87, Celtics 72

The Celtics go into the final frame trailing by 15 points. Jaylen Brown leads the Celtics with 26 points heading into the fourth quarter, while Al Horford has a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. 

10:18 p.m. — Here come the Celtics! Al Horford's triple brings Boston to within single digits for the first time since three minutes into the game.

10:12 p.m. — Seconds after checking back in the game, Smart drills a triple to cut the deficit to 10 points (72-62).

10:10 p.m. — And just like that Smart is BACK! Despite spraining his right ankle, he returns to the game. 

10:01 p.m. — Marcus Smart is helped to the locker room after appearing to injure his ankle in a collision with Kyle Lowry. 

9:59 p.m. — A big blow for the Heat as Jimmy Butler will not return for the remainder of the game due to right knee inflammation.

Half-time: Heat 62, Celtics 47

9:42 p.m. — Jayson Tatum caps off the first half with a big triple to make it a 10-0 run for the Celtics as they cut the deficit to 15 points.

9:34 p.m. — This is looking like the Bam Adebayo game! The big man has as many points tonight as he had in the first two games combined. He leads Miami with 16 points and six assists.

9:33 p.m. — Kyle Lowry hits the tough fadeaway after Miami had missed their last eight shots. They now lead 58-35.

9:26 p.m. — The frustration continues for Boston as Jayson Tatum is called for an offensive foul. His second foul of the game. 

9:17 p.m. — Caleb Martin joins the party with a triple to make it 6-of-8 for the Heat from deep. They lead by 26 points with 9:41 remaining in the second. Timeout Boston. 

9:14 p.m. — The second quarter starts the same as the first — Miami's defense is putting up a wall and contesting everything. Despite Boston's crisp ball movement, the help defenders are arriving on time and forcing turnovers and misses. 

End of first quarter: Celtics 39, Heat 18

The Heat raced out of the gates to take a 21-point lead at the first break, behind a huge first quarter from Baam Adebayo (12 points, two rebounds). Jaylen Brown leads the Celtics with 11 of their 18 points. 

9:07 p.m. — Adebayo continues to take advantage of the absence of Robert Williams III, getting to the rim again and again. Boston has to find a way to keep him out of the paint.

9:03 p.m — ESPN's Malika Andrews reported on the broadcast that Lowry's return to the locker room is to aid the management of his hamstring injury, using the stationary bike and stretching, something he'll continue to do throughout the game.

9:02 p.m. — Boston is struggling to get anything to go early on, just 3-of-13 from the field as Miami lead 29-14.

8:54 p.m. — Gabe Vincent checks into the game as Kyle Lowry heads back to the locker room. It's unclear if he picked up an injury. We'll continue to monitor the situation. 

8:52 p.m. — After a quiet outing in Game 2 (six points), Bam Adebayo has been much more aggressive in Boston, attacking his matchup in the paint with Al Horford. He's up to eight points midway through Q1.

8:49 p.m. — A perfect start for the Heat who have gone 6-of-6 from the field to start the game as they race out to a 16-4 lead.

8:44 p.m. — Jimmy Butler is off to a strong start in Game 3. He attacks the basket and gets the and-1. Timeout Boston. 

8:42 p.m. — We're underway in Boston as Max Strus drills the triple to open the scoring.

Pregame

Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and Daniel Theis will start for Boston.

Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Max Strus, PJ Tucker and Bam Adebayo will start Game 3 for the Heat.

Robert Williams III officially ruled out for Game 3.

What channel is Celtics vs. Heat on?

  • Date: Saturday, May 21
  • TV channel: ABC
  • Live streaming: Sling TV | Watch ESPN

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals will air on ABC. Viewers can also stream Game 3 on Watch ESPN or Sling TV.

Viewers in the U.S. can stream every NBA Playoff game live on SLING TV. With the SLING Orange Sports Extra package, get $10 off your first month now with access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT and NBATV. NBA Playoff games on ABC are simulcast on ESPN3, which is included with SLING Orange, available for $35 per month including $25 the first month for new subscribers.

MORE: Watch the NBA Playoffs on Sling TV (U.S. only)

Celtics vs. Heat start time

  • Date: Saturday, May 21
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals will tip off around 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 21. The game will be played at TD Garden in Boston.

Celtics vs. Heat schedule, results

Here is the full schedule for the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.

Date Game Time (ET) / Result TV channel
May 17 Game 1 Heat 118, Celtics 107 ESPN
May 19 Game 2 Celtics 127, Heat 102 ESPN
May 21 Game 3 Heat 109, Celtics 103 ABC
May 23 Game 4 8:30 p.m. ABC
May 25 Game 5 8:30 p.m. ESPN
May 27 Game 6* 8:30 p.m. ESPN
May 29 Game 7* 8:30 p.m. ESPN

*If necessary

Benyam Kidane

Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.