Bam Adebayo steps up as Heat seizes 2-1 lead
Bam Adebayo delivered a 31-point masterpiece as the Miami Heat dug deep to defeat the Boston Celtics, 109-103, on the road and take a crucial 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference finals series.
After an injury forced Miami talisman Jimmy Butler out of the game at halftime, Adebayo stepped up with a superb all-round display to hold off a ferocious Boston fightback at the Celtics' TD Garden.
Adebayo, who had averaged just eight points a game in the first two fixtures of the bestof-seven series, finished with 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals in addition to his 31-point haul.
That helped Miami close out a thrilling battle which had seen the Celtics claw their way back from a whopping 26-point first-half deficit to get within one point with just under three minutes remaining.
"Those last couple of games, my team depended on me and I didn't show up," Adebayo said afterwards. "I took it upon myself to lock in and get the win." (AFP)