When the Celtics fell behind by as many as 14 points late in the third quarter in Game 3 on Saturday, a comeback seemed highly improbable.
Jayson Tatum was like Calvin Cambridge without his sneakers. Giannis Antetokounmpo was essentially Godzilla. Al Horford couldn’t do everything. But these aren’t the 2021 Celtics. This team has consistently shown resolve and moxie over the last few months, and this was simply the latest example as they stormed all the way back to even take a lead late in the 4th quarter.
The Celtics ultimately fell, 103-101, but they left feeling as though they were one or two breaks – or calls – away from an entirely different outcome and a series lead with home court advantage.