Celtics vs. Heat final score, results: Miami takes 3-0 series lead with blowout win over Boston

Gilbert McGregor

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Celtics vs. Heat final score, results: Miami takes 3-0 series lead with blowout win over Boston image

The Miami Heat are one win away from the NBA Finals.

After hard-fought battles in Games 1 and 2, the Heat cruised to a dominant 128-102 win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Celtics.

Miami fired on all cylinders and seemingly broke Boston, which is now one win away from elimination. The Heat were led by 29 points from Gabe Vincent while Jimmy Butler scored just 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

On the losing side of things, the Celtics' duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined to score 26 points on combined 12-of-33 shooting.

The Sporting News tracked updates from throughout Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals below.

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Celtics vs. Heat score

Team 1 2 3 4 Final
Celtics 22 24 17 39 102
Heat 30 31 32 35 128

Celtics vs. Heat live score, updates, highlights from Game 3

(All times Eastern.)

Final: Heat 128, Celtics 102

10:36 p.m. — It's again gotten out of hand.

Gabe Vincent is red hot, up to a game-high 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. There's a timeout on the floor and Miami leads 112-83.

10:29 p.m. — Everything is cosmetic from here on out, but there's still quite a bit of time left to play.

The Heat lead 97-73 with 7:43 remaining in regulation. Boston has turned to Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet to share the floor with Marcus Smart and Grant Williams.

The Celtics will try to put up some fight before this one ends.

End of Third Quarter: Heat 93, Celtics 63

10:05 p.m. — The lead has ballooned to 27 points and Miami is on the verge of doing the improbable.

The Heat are up 83-56 with 6:28 remaining in the third. All of the momentum is on Miami's side and Boston is looking defeated.

10 p.m. — We're familiar with "Playoff Jimmy" but "Petty Jimmy" has made an appearance in Game 3.

As a Gabe Vincent 3 forces Boston to call a timeout, Jimmy Butler reminds Al Horford of his taunt from Game 1 of the series.

9:55 p.m. — It's getting away from the Celtics, who now face a 23-point deficit after a transition 3 from Gabe Vincent.

Miami leads 74-51 with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Boston needs to turn things around quickly before it faces a 3-0 series deficit.

Halftime: Heat 61, Celtics 46

9:31 p.m. — The Celtics tried to build some momentum but the Heat answered.

Miami enters the half with a 15-point lead thanks to shooting 57.5 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. Jimmy Butler has nine points in the game but it's the trio of Caleb Martin (11), Duncan Robinson (10) and Gabe Vincent (10) that has made it to double-figures first.

Jaylen Brown leads Boston with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting while Jayson Tatum has nine points (on 4-of-11 shooting) and a game-high 10 rebounds.

9:17 p.m. — It's all Heat right now in Miami.

Miami is up to an 18-point lead and holds all the momentum. With under six minutes remaining in the half, the Heat lead 51-33.

An unreal scene at the Kaseya Center.

9:08 p.m. — The Heat are red hot from the field.

Miami is shooting 18 of 27 (66.7 percent) from the field and 6 of 12 (50.0 percent) from deep. It's translated to a 13-point lead as the Heat are up 45-32 with 7:20 left in the second.

The Kaseya Center is rocking, and Joe Mazzulla has signaled for a timeout.

9:05 p.m. — It's an ankle injury for Kevin Love, whose status for the remainder of the game is yet to be determined.

End of First Quarter: Heat 30, Celtics 22

9:00 p.m. — The Heat have gotten out to a 10-point lead, but the Celtics respond with an and-one from Robert Williams (following a coach's challenge).

Williams failed to convert the free throw but the deficit is eight at the end of the first frame.

8:46 p.m. — Early foul trouble for Boston. Robert Williams III has picked up two early fouls in the first.

More momentum for the Heat, who are now up 21-16 after a transition 3 from Max Strus. Miami is 4 of 7 from deep early on and Jimmy Butler is up to three assists in the game.

8:38 p.m. — The Celtics are out to an early 12-9 lead over the Heat with 7:13 left in the first.

Jayson Tatum leads the way for Boston with five points, a total matched by Miami's Kevin Love. There's a timeout on the floor as Love appeared to tweak something and has asked to be subbed out of the game.

Pregame

8 p.m. — Same starting five for the Heat, who will go with Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love and Bam Adebayo.

7:52 p.m. — The Heat are looking comfortable at home. Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson are getting ready for Game 3.

7 p.m. — The Celtics are going small, opting to start the same lineup that opened second half of Game 2: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford will start for Boston in Game 3.

What channel is Celtics vs. Heat on?

  • Date: Sunday, May 21
  • TV channel: TNT
  • Live streaming: Sling TV

Game 3 of Celtics vs. Heat will air on TNT. Kevin Harlan will handle play-by-play duties alongside analysts Reggie Miller and Stan Van Gundy. Allie LaForce will report from the sideline.

Viewers in the United States can also stream the game on Sling TV.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the NBA Playoffs on Sling TV, which is now offering $10 off your first month! Stream the sports you love starting at just $30 in your first month with Sling Orange to catch all the games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.

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What time is Celtics vs. Heat tonight?

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

Celtics vs. Heat will tip off around 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 21. The game will be played at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

Celtics vs. Heat odds

Boston is a 2.5-point favorite heading into Game 3.

Game Lines Celtics Heat
Spread -2.5 +2.5
Moneyline -150 +125

For the full market, check out BetMGM.

Celtics vs. Heat schedule

Here is the complete schedule for the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals:

Date Game Time (ET) TV channel
May 17 Heat 123, Celtics 116 8:30 p.m. TNT
May 19 Heat 111, Celtics 105 8:30 p.m. TNT
May 21 Heat 128, Celtics 102 8:30 p.m. TNT
May 23 Game 4 8:30 p.m. TNT
May 25 Game 5* 8:30 p.m. TNT
May 27 Game 6* 8:30 p.m. TNT
May 29 Game 7* 8:30 p.m. TNT

*If necessary

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.