BOSTON — On the first possession of the game, Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry made a statement.
He snatched a rebound off a Boston Celtics miss and sped the ball up the court before finding Max Strus for an open 3-pointer.
Thus began an avalanche against a typically stolid Celtics defense. Miami’s dominant first quarter Saturday provided enough cushion to withstand Boston’s furious comeback and emotional in-game returns from Celtics players who had appeared to be seriously injured. But it was the return of two Heat stars that made possible Miami’s 109-103 win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.