"Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn't have a problem with the quantity of shots Kevin Garnett took in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals. It was the quality that left a bit to be desired.

Garnett got the message loud and clear last night, dominating the paint at both ends of the floor in leading the Celtics to a 97-81 victory. Cutting the Heat's lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, Garnett scored 28 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and generally had his way with the Heat big men.

"Kevin had 20 shots in Game 2, but it wasn't the 20 shots that we wanted," said Rivers. "(Last night), he got the 20 shots that we wanted, minus the three at the end of the game .?.?. even his jump shots were on the elbows, it wasn't further out.

"His shots from the corner were in the right spots. And he got into the middle of the paint instead of turning away. That was nice to see."

Garnett wasn't a factor in the opening game, making just 3-of-9 from the field and failing to get to the line. While the veteran forward was statistically better (8-for-20 from the field) in Game 2, it still wasn't enough, and no one knew it more than him.

"I had been pretty much a non-factor offensively in this series," Garnett admitted. "I was looking for my shots to be honest.

"They weren't double-teaming me, so I took my opportunities and was aggressive. I gotta be like that for the rest of the series, if not the rest of the playoffs."

One person who did fear a potential Garnett breakout was Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who invoked one of the NBA's legendary centers in describing Garnett's performance."