When the Miami Heat won Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics stated their confidence in winning the series.
So when the Celtics won Game 3 in Boston on Friday, the Heat asserted the same belief that they could bounce back with a win.
We're up 21, Udonis Haslem said during media availability on Saturday. Obviously we have another opportunity to try to win another game tomorrow. I don't feel any pressure. We don't feel any pressure, I think. Not time to push the panic button. We know why we lost, and we know what we have to do, so it's not a big mystery.
In addition to limiting the Celtics, the Heat will look to get Dwyane Wade more involved offensively. He scored 18 points in Game 3, compared to 22 in Game 1 and 23 in Game 2.
We want to go up 31, no question about it, said Wade. Obviously, they don't want to go down 31. It's going to be a very competitive game. They've been in these battles before. We've been in these battles before. These are moments and these are the kinds of games, especially Games 4, that you love. Like I said, our only goal is to come up here with a split. We have one more shot at it, and hopefully we can pull it off.
Kevin Garnett referred to Game 3 as a desperation game. Now with the Celtics determined to even up the series on their home court, the Heat are looking to play the role of spoiler and return to Miami with the opportunity to clinch the series in Game 5.
It's one game, LeBron James said. They protected the home court for Game 3. We get another opportunity, thats the best thing about it. We get another opportunity to play tomorrow, and we're going to try to win a game, go back home and try to finish it up.