It takes a special defender to take on the opposition’s No. 1 scorer each night and still find time to roam as an elite help defender as well. In pursuit of a second NBA championship in as many years, Miami Heat forward P.J. Tucker proved he could be that guy, finding a way to contest three shots in 10 seconds. Tucker starts by rotating up to defend a floater against a Boston Celtics big, then follows it up by blocking a putback attempt. Tucker completes a trifecta, stripping the ball away on a drive attempt, helping the Heat keep their lead in double-figures late in the third quarter. By game’s end, he’d found time to chip in 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals, three triples and a block in the 109-103 victory to take a 2-1 series edge on May 21, 2022.
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2022 NBA Playoffs, Series 3
