Some might suggest that if you lose the first two games of a series at home, you might as well pack your bags and head home for the winter. We’ll find out if that’s the case in this series, but the Celtics are already in a deep hole as they go to Miami for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals down 0-2. The game will begin at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Injury Update Miami Heat and Boston Celtics
There’s no stopping the Miami Heat. The 8th seed, which narrowly made the tournament as an 8th seed after losing the first play-in game, is now only two wins away from progressing to the NBA Finals. They defeated the Celtics 111-105 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals and will now return to Miami looking to seal the deal.
Jimmy Butler scored 27 points to lead the Heat, and he also grabbed eight boards and dished out six assists as the team rallied from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to win.
Butler had another great game, but this is becoming a pattern for him in the playoffs; in 12 of his previous 13 games, he has scored at least 25 points.
The All-Star forward has become one of the finest players in the playoffs because to his stellar play in all areas of the game. He’s averaging 30.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game across 14 outings in Miami’s deep playoff run.
For injury, while a knee injury has kept Victor Oladipo out of the playoffs, it’s unclear whether or not Tyler Herro will be able to return to action for the Heat this year.
The Celtics are in serious jeopardy. In game two of the Eastern Conference finals, they again let a fourth-quarter lead slip away and lost to the Miami Heat. They are now down 0-2 and will play Game 3 in Miami.
The Celtics led for the majority of the game, but the Heat kept it close and eventually pulled ahead with some clutch shooting and defense in the final period to steal a victory.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two of the team’s talents, faded away in the fourth quarter. Tatum scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Boston, and Brown scored 16 points.
Tatum missed a triple-double by a just two assists, but his efforts were not enough to give Boston a home victory. Tatum’s 32.0 point and 10.0 rebound average through the first two games of the series proves that he is not to blame for the Celtics’ 0-2 series deficit.
Brown, meanwhile, struggled in Game 2, finishing with more field goal attempts than points scored and making little to no effect in other areas. This was also the second time in Brown’s last four postseason games that he scored less than 20 points. However, in his last 10 playoff games, he has still scored 23 points per game on average.
Danilo Gallinari (knee) will not play in Game 3 against the Heat on Sunday.
Gallinari’s offseason knee surgery has not prevented him from missing further time. There has been no word that the veteran forward has resumed basketball practices, so it’s looking increasingly doubtful that Gallinari will play any role in this year’s postseason.
Injury Report Celtics:
- Danilo Gallinari (Knee) – Out
Injury Report Heat:
- Tyler Herro (Hand) – Out
- Victor Oladipo (Knee) – Out for the season
