(Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports)
Final: Celtics 110, Heat 106 - Tatum near triple-double leads C's past Heat
BOSTON CELTICS at MIAMI HEAT
2 p.m., ABC
Line: Boston -5.5
INJURIES
Boston: Xavier Tillman (OUT, knee), Jaden Springer (OUT, ankle)
Miami: Jimmy Butler (OUT, personal reasons), Dru Smith (OUT, knee)
LAST TIME
Boston went nearly nine minutes without missing in the first quarter, fueled by Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, to take a 13-point lead after one. The second quarter was played even, with both teams scoring 35. Boston kept up the scoring but clamped down defensively to extend the lead to 23. The lead got up to 34 and it was garbage time after that.
THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR
1. A lotta Porzingis: Miami is going to throw a bunch of creative defenses at Boston, and Porzingis is the answer to all of them. Get him the ball and flow off of him.
2. Rebound: Miami has the fifth-lowest field goal percentage in the league, and Boston is second in the league in defensive field goal percentage and third in shots contested. Miami will miss shots, so clear the rebounds and get out in transition.
3. Bench vs bench: With Butler out, there’ll be more pressure on the Heat bench to put up points. Miami’s bench averages 36 points per game but some of that will move into the starting lineup. This is a chance for Boston’s bench to be a real plus if Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard can hit shots.
Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.