The Heat and Celtics meet for the first of two matchups this season, in a Conference Finals rematch. The game will be at 7:30 ET in Miami, broadcasted on ESPN.
Celtics:
Boston is coming off of a very dominant performance in the 126-114 win over the Raptors. The Celtics right now are dealing with three severe injuries, Kemba Walker (knee), Jeff Teague (ankle), and Marcus Smart (thumb). However Marcus Smart’s injury is said to be the least severe. He is questionable on whether or not he will play tonight. Jaylen Brown is off to an amazing start for the Celtics, as he is averaging 26.9 PPG, and shooting 57.7%.
Lastly, the Celtics should be hungry for a win tonight, after the loss that knocked them out of the bubble not too long ago on September 27th of last year.
Heat:
The Heat have experienced struggle in their first 6 games, amounting at a 3-3 record and not playing to their standards. They have had some good opponents so far this year. The teams they have lost to are the Magic, Bucks, and the Mavericks. Miami has been victorious against the Pelicans, Bucks, and Thunder this season.
The Heat are looking to avoid being under .500 yet again, as they look for their 4th win of the year. They are coming off of a 118-90 win over the OKC Thunder, in a game where the Heat looked really good.
“I feel like they’re going to come out with the same intensity that the Bucks did just for the simple fact that we knocked them off in the Eastern Conference finals.” Abedayo told the Miami Herald.
Prediction:
The way the Bucks dominated the Heat after getting knocked out of the playoffs by the Heat months earlier, it only makes sense for the Celtics to come out that way. As the Celtics should get the win.
122-115, Celtics win.