For the Brooklyn Nets, Game 3 was all about the three. Joe Johnson scored 19 points to lead six players in double figures as the Nets made a franchise-record 15 three-pointers on Saturday night in a 104-90 home victory over the Miami Heat, who lost for the first time in the NBA playoffs.
Andray Blatche scored 15 points and fellow reserve Mirza Teletovic of Bosnia added 12 for the sixth-seeded Nets, who made just 18-of-48 three-pointers in losing the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Miami but were a scorching 15-of-25 from the arc in Game 3.
Johnson made 5-of-7 three-pointers and Teletovic made 4-of-7 from the arc. Sharp passing allowed six different Nets to strike from long range.
Meanwhile, the second-seeded Heat were just 8-of-24 from the arc, including three from reserve James Jones long after the outcome was decided. LeBron James was 3-of-7 from deep and scored 28 points.
It was James who was hot early, scoring 16 points in the first quarter. But Johnson’s two three-pointers helped Brooklyn take a 51-49 halftime edge.
Miami was within 59-56 when Teletovic — who made six three-pointers in Game 2 — caught fire. He drained three three-pointers in an 18-5 burst in the third quarter. Deron Williams banked in a three to make it 77-61 with 1:13 left.
Teletovic opened the fourth quarter with another three-pointer, Alan Anderson added a pair from the arc and Pierce extended the lead to 95-75 with 4:52 left on a three-pointer as he was fouled by Dwyane Wade.
Shaun Livingston scored 12 points and Kevin Garnett added 10 for the Nets, who held a 43-27 rebounding edge. Deron Williams, held scoreless in Game 2, had nine points and 11 assists.Wade scored 20 points and Chris Bosh added 12 for the Heat, who shot 46 percent and managed just 13 assists.
Blazers trail Spurs
Tony Parker scored 20 of his 29 points in the first half as the top-seeded Spurs took a commanding 3-0 lead (118-103) in their Western Conference semifinal series with another awesome offensive performance on the road.
Tim Duncan added 19 points and Kawhi Leonard had 16 for top-seeded San Antonio, which is averaging 116 points in the series. LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Trail Blazers, who will try to avoid the sweep in Game 4 on Monday.
