Basketball
Celtics get back in East finals series, stifle Heat at home
Reuters
BOSTON – The Boston Celtics re-energized their playoff ambitions with stifling defence as they overcame the Miami Heat 101-91 on Friday to cut their NBA Eastern Conference finals series deficit to 2-1.
Miami won the first two games of the best-of-seven series on their home court but failed to bring their winning ways to Boston, who neutralised the Heat’s key duo, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
James, the league’s Most Valuable Player, had scored 16 points in the first quarter but Boston restricted him to only 18 more over the remainder of the game as the Celtics, led by 24 points from Kevin Garnett, claimed the win.
Garnett was supported with 23 points from forward Paul Pierce, while Rajon Rondo had 21 and 10 assists.
Boston can tie up the series with victory in Game Four on Sunday.
