"I did a s**t job taking care of the basketball tonight" - Former All-Rookie team member blames himself for Boston Celtics' turnover struggles against Miami Heat in Game 3
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown had a career night and a night that he wanted to forget. That may sound like a paradox, but that is exactly what happened to the 2021 All-Star and 2016-17 All-Rookie team member on Saturday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Brown brought up a playoff career-high 40 points, going a perfect 11-of-11 from inside the arc, but still had to endure a horrid night as the Boston Celtics lost 103-109 at TD Garden.
Despite the loss, Jaylen Brown became the 1st player in the shot clock era (since 1954-55) to have a playoff game with 40 points on 100% 2-point FG shooting.
Brown shot 11-11 from inside the arc. https://t.co/Yor8RSSGaX
The chief reason for Jaylen Brown's and the the Boston Celtics' woes were turnovers. Boston committed a whopping 24 turnovers as they tried to make a comeback from a 26-point deficit (20-46) early in the second quarter. Brown was the main culprit for Boston as he matched his playoff career-high of seven turnovers in the contest. Interestingly, Brown landed his career-worst showing of seven turnovers in these very playoffs during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Besides Brown, Jayson Tatum (10 points on three-of-14 shooting) had six turnovers, while reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, gave up the ball on four occasions. The Miami Heat, playing without star player Jimmy Butler (knee inflammation) in the second half, benefitted immensely from Boston's poor ball-handling as they scored 33 points off their opponent's turnovers.
Points off turnovers....33-9 Miami.
In a game they win by 6.
The Heat's 19 steals were one shy of the NBA record.
Brown, though, took full responsibility for his poor night as far as turnovers were concerned. He told the media following the Game 3 loss quite candidly:
"I did a s**t job taking care of the basketball tonight."
Jaylen Brown: "I did a shit job taking care of the basketball tonight."
Boston Celtics come out with lethargic first quarter effort versus Miami Heat in Game 3
Boston Celtics fans had a distinct feeling of deja vu in Game 3. Having suffered a 14-39 third-quarter meltdown in Game 1, which decisively turned the course of that contest, the Celtics conceded an 18-39 quarter to the Miami Heat in Game 3. They made just one-of-six three-point shots and committed as many as five turnovers in the first 12-minute period to start the game.
Things went from bad-to-worse for the Celtics as the Heat went on to extend their lead to 62-37 with about 1:49 left in the second quarter. And although Boston did manage to make a comeback, cutting the deficit to as little as one point (92-93) late in the fourth quarter, repeated turnovers ultimately cost the Celtics the game.
Ime Udoka: "You turn it over 24 times and gift them 33 points off that, you dig yourself in a hole. We got back, but that's hard to overcome."