The Heat emerged victorious in Game 2 against the Celtics, winning 111-101 at TD Garden on Wednesday. Now gearing up for Saturday night’s game, Miami has a chance to take the lead in their longstanding rivalry with Boston. This matchup has been a significant feature of the playoffs since 2010, with this being the seventh encounter between the teams in the last 14 years.
The Heat’s rotation has been further impacted by Delon Wright’s absence in Game 3 due to personal reasons. Despite his absence, Wright has been a valuable contributor in the series, averaging 11 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting an impressive 75% from three-point range. Miami is already dealing with key player absences like Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, and Josh Richardson due to various injuries.
On the other hand, the Celtics received a boost with Luke Kornet being available for the first time in the series after recovering from a right calf strain. Kornet’s return offers Boston the option to play bigger, improve rebounding and better strategize against Miami’s defense, which could be crucial in upcoming games of the series.
Before Game 3, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized how utilizing Kornet’s presence would offset minutes played by star players like Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford while providing more depth and flexibility to their team. Both teams have had their share of challenges and successes in this highly competitive series so far; each game brings new dynamics and strategies to light.
In preparation for Game 3, both teams are focused on making strategic adjustments and leveraging their roster strengths to gain an advantage over each other in what promises to be an intense and closely contested matchup between two equally determined teams looking forward to emerging victorious and advancing in the playoffs
