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Stephen Curry, Warriors beat Mavericks, move one win away from returning to NBA Finals

Golden State will go for the sweep Tuesday in Dallas. No NBA team has rallied from 3-0 down to win a playoff series.

Jimmy Butler’s status is uncertain, but the Heat proved they can win anyway in Game 3

Butler sat out the second half with right knee inflammation.

Jayson Tatum proving inconsistent as teams heap defensive pressure on him

Despite adding some signature moments to his portfolio these playoffs, the Celtics — in a marked change from the regular season — actually have been better by the numbers with Tatum on the bench.

NBA fines Dallas Mavericks $100,000 for third bench violation during playoffs

The fine has doubled each time, with the latest at $100,000 after Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Golden State.

Christopher L. Gasper
The Celtics know they can flip the switch, but they can’t afford to switch off at this stage of the playoffs
While the Celtics haven’t lost back-to-back playoff games, they have lost focus when they think they’ve established their dominance.

Chad Finn
Celtics-Heat has become a war of attrition, but don’t count Boston out just yet
Each side has lost key players to injury, and while the Celtics are down, they're far from out.

Latest Headlines in Basketball

Heat 109, Celtics 103
The Boston Celtics bench.

‘We’ve just got to man up.’ The Celtics knew what was coming in Game 3. It didn’t matter.

The Celtics have stressed how much they relish playoff games at TD Garden, how there is nothing quite like the atmosphere, and how opponents should take cover.

GARY WASHBURN | ON BASKETBALL
Marcus Smart picked up a technical after fouling out late, and argued the call with referee James Williams (60), just part of a frustrating Game 3 from the Celtics.

With a chance to take control of series, there was no excuse for this Celtics performance

They were coming off a big Game 2 win, but aren't good enough to rely on past accomplishments, especially when they haven’t won anything yet.

HEAT 109, CELTICS 103 | INSTANT ANALYSIS
It felt like every loose ball and errant pass ended up in the hands of the Heat on Saturday night, as this one went to Miami's Victor Oladipo instead of Jayson Tatum.

Observations as 24 turnovers prove too much for Celtics in frustrating Game 3 loss to Heat

Miami came out hot following their thrashing in Game 2, and despite allowing the Celtics to close a 26-point gap to a single point, 19 steals from a sloppy Boston starting five cost a potential massive comeback.

Dan Shaughnessy
Grant Williams loses the ball on a second quarter drive to the hoop as Miami's P.J. Tucker defends. The ball ended up in the hands of Jimmy Butler, who wound up sitting out the second half with right knee inflammation.

After Celtics took a stunning loss in Game 3, there’s no telling what to expect in Game 4

One thing is clear: This best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals against the top-seeded Heat is shaping up to be just as grueling a grind as the semifinal series vs. the defending champion Bucks.

Live updates
Jaylen Brown (right) was defebded by Max Strus in the first quarter.

How it happened: Heat start fast and hold off every Celtics rally to take 2-1 series lead

The Heat raced to a 39-18 lead, but the Celtics pulled within one late in the fourth quarter before a final surge carried Miami to victory.

CELTICS
Jimmy Butler scored 8 points on 3 of 8 shooting in the first half Saturday.

Heat rule out Jimmy Butler for second half with knee inflammation

Butler was a plus-13 as Miami built a lead that reached 26 points in the first half, but did not return after the break thanks to an issue that also kept him out of a game of Miami’s first-round playoff series.

CELTICS
Derrick White and his wife, Hannah, expected to induce labor between games of the Eastern Conference finals with Miami, but young Hendrix James White had other plans.

Quite the experience: Derrick White recounts birth of his son, the Celtics’ newest Hendrix

On Thursday morning, prior to Game 2 in Miami, White received word that his wife was probably going into labor. He missed the birth, but watched the victory with young Hendrix James White.

CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Robert Williams blocked five shots in the first two games against Miami.

Left knee soreness rules Robert Williams out for Celtics in Game 3 vs. Heat

Williams, named to the NBA All-Defensive second team on Friday, has played in seven of Boston’s 11 playoff games since his return on April 23 — roughly three and a half weeks following left knee surgery.