Like Denver against the Lakers, Miami also leads 3-0 after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals this Sunday in Florida. The Heat, who made short work of the Celtics (128-102) in this meeting, are only one victory away from returning to the Finals.
Three years after the success of the Lakers against Miami in the Orlando bubble in the most total indifference or almost at this time when the whole world, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, thought more of confining itself than of fascinate for sports news, many basketball enthusiasts hoped that the rematch between the two teams would come this year, this time in the classic format and in front of the public. Nothing is done yet.
However, if today there is a good chance that the Heat will return to the NBA Finals three years after this setback against Los Angeles (Editor’s note: we had to go back to 2014 and another disappointment, in front of San Antonio, to find the Florida franchise in the finals), for LeBron James and his family, led 3-0 by Denver, the case is practically closed. But the Nuggets are no longer the only ones who only need one success to validate their ticket. On Sunday, Miami also came close to qualifying by also winning for the third time in a row against Boston, to lead 3-0 there too.
The Celtics have a greeting from Mr. Vincent
However, if the Celtics had the merit of hanging on in the first two games of the series, played in their TD Garden, Jayson Tatum, once again unrecognizable (14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists to 6 of 18 on shots including 1 out of 7 at three points), however completely lost their footing (128-102 defeat) during the first meeting of the series on the Florida floor. Led by a Gabe Vincent, still exceptional (29 points on Sunday) in the role of replacing Tyler Herro, the Heat, in steamroller mode, like a smashing Bam Adebayo (13 points) or a Duncan Robinson still also inspired from long distance (22 points at 5 out of 7 in this part), pulverized C’s, who were up to 33 points behind. Jimmy Butler, author of 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, did not even need to show off. consecrations in a row) took place on Sunday.