SIZE MATTERS FOR CELTICS

Boston bounce back to triumph 116-100 in Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead at home

- 

BOSTON • It was only the second quarter on Wednesday night, but the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum seemed determined to build on a theme as he eyed an opportunity.

He took a hard dribble at Stephen Curry, spun to his right and drove straight into the lane before depositing a lay-up over his smaller rival.

The Celtics were eager to familiarise themselves with the basket in Game 3 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.

So they used their size to bully various members of the Golden State Warriors in the low post and off the dribble. They attempted lay-ups. They dunked. They threw short jumpers off the glass.

The result was a 116-100 win at TD Garden to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 is in Boston today.

“That left a bad taste in our mouth, coming out of Game 2 hearing and knowing that we got beat up,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said of their Game 2 loss.