Rondo, Celtics beat Heat 101-91, trail series 2-1 - San Jose Mercury News

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Boston Celtics forwards Kevin Garnett (5) and Mikael Pietrus try to stop Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) on a drive to the basket during the first quarter of Game 3 in the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, in Boston on Friday, June 1, 2012.

BOSTONâ€"Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Rajon Rondo scored 21 points with 10 assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 101-91 victory over the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Friday night, cutting Miami's lead in the series to 2-1.

Game 4 is Sunday night in Boston.

Paul Pierce scored 23 points for Boston.

LeBron James scored 34 points, but the NBA MVP and the rest of the Heat went cold during a 7-minute stretch at the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, when Boston outscored them 15-0 to turn a six-point deficit into a nine-point lead.

James scored 16 points in the first quarter but had just four points with one rebound and one assist in the fourth, when

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and forward LeBron James (6) react near Boston Celtics guard Keyon Dooling (51) and guard Marquis Daniels, second from right, during the second quarter of Game 3 in the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals in Boston on Friday, June 1, 2012. ((AP Photo/Elise Amendola))

Miami cut a 24-point deficit to eight. Mike Miller hit consecutive 3-pointers during an 11-0 run that cut the deficit to 95-87.

Miami still trailed by eight points, with the ball, when Dwyane Wade missed and Ray Allen grabbed the rebound, sending Rondo on a fast break that made it a 99-89 with 99 seconds to play. James threw the ball away underneath, then missed a 3-point attempt the next time downâ€"one of only four shots he took in the fourth quarter.

Pierce found Garnett for a long jumper at the other end, and the teams began emptying their benches.

Coming off his 44-point effort in the Game 2 loss in Miami, in which he played every second of regulation and overtime, Rondo was 9 for 16 from the field and grabbed

six rebounds. Marquis Daniels led the Boston bench with nine points and five rebounds in 18 minutes.

Wade scored 18 points and Mario Chalmers had 14 points and six assists for Miami. Shane Battier was scoreless, missing all six shots, and Ronny Turiaf had three points while tangling with Garnett under the basket for much of the game.

The Celtics center, who has appeared rejuvenated during these playoffs at the age of 36, got called for another technical foul for a violent elbow but

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (34) recoils from a foul by Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) during the second quarter of Game 3 in the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals in Boston, Friday, June 1, 2012. ((AP Photo/Elise Amendola))

otherwise seemed to be enjoying himself. While waiting to inbound the ball in the second quarter, he high-fived a young child sitting courtside in a No. 5 Celtics jersey.

At the other end, after falling to the court after his shot, he did a series of pushups to the crowd's amusement.

Wade was 9 for 20 from the field and did not shoot a free throw in the game. James, who shot 24 free throws in Game 2, making 18, was 1 for 5 from the line.

James hit seven of his first nine shots, before making one of the next six. That helped Boston score the last eight points of the first quarter and the first seven of the second to turn six-point deficit into a nine-point lead. Much of it came with Keyon Dooling and Daniels on the court

Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett knocks the ball from the hands of Miami Heat forward LeBron James, right, on a drive to the basket during the first half of Game 3 in the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, in Boston on Friday, June 1, 2012. At left is Heat guard Mario Chalmers, and next to him is Celtics forward Mickael Pietrus. ((AP Photo/Charles Krupa))

for Boston.

Notes: During the first timeout, the Celtics acknowledged Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan, who is retiring this summer. GM Danny Ainge was one of the first to stand and applaud. ... K.C. Jones, who was celebrating his 80th birthday, and fellow Celtic great John Havlicek were in the crowd.

Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (5) yells after hitting the floor hard while vying for a rebound against the Miami Heat during the second quarter of Game 3 in the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, in Boston on Friday, June 1, 2012. ((AP Photo/Elise Amendola))

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives against Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo during the second quarter of Game 3 in the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, in Boston on Friday, June 1, 2012. ((AP Photo/Elise Amendola))