Game 53: Heat at Celtics
Tip-off:
1 p.m.
Records: Celtics (38-14), Heat (39-14)
Broadcast info: ABC, WEEI
Probable starters:
Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kendrick Perkins
Heat:
PG: Mario Chalmers
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: LeBron James
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Storylines:
No breaks: Not only are the Celtics coming off a loss to the Lakers, but an early afternoon start means both teams are likely to be out of sync. This game is for first-place in the Eastern Conference and could have home court implications for the playoffs.
Injury bug: The Celtics will be no healthier than they were Thursday. Eddie House (knee) is expected to play. The one positive about the Celtics’ shorthanded status is that the Heat don’t run a lot of big men at you like the Lakers do. But Paul Pierce needs to stay out of foul trouble guarding LeBron James. After Pierce, the options to guard James are few and far between.
Statement game: The Heat have been a different team since these two teams last met. This is a big game for Miami’s confidence. It may be unfair for the Celtics to face this kind of test being shorthanded, but that’s how it is.
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