On this day in 2012, the Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 101-91 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
While the LeBron James-led Heat would eventually win the series in seven games, the Celtics made them work for it, and Game 3 was no exception.
Big man Kevin Garnett would lead Boston with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while forward Paul Pierce added 23 points, and point guard Rajon Rondo 21 points, 6 boards and 10 assists.
Shooting guard Ray Allen chipped in 10 points and 5 rebounds to the win; it was also the game of Garnett’s infamous knuckle push-ups after getting knocked to the ground after a hard foul in the second quarter.
“I’m getting crap about my form, but I want people to know it’s because it was on my knuckles,” KG jested after the game (via the Associated Press). “That’s old school. My uncle taught me to do pushups on my knuckles. That’s some Army-Navy stuff.”
