Heat vs Celtics

See odds, expert picks and analysis for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics.

Boston also lost in this round to LeBron James’ Cavaliers in 2017 and ’18. Counting a 2012 loss to James’ Heat, the Celtics have lost four straight conference finals since making the 2010 NBA Finals. Spoelstra in 2002 was an advance scout with the Heat, watching those playoffs from afar after Miami struggled to a losing record and head coach Pat Riley missed the playoffs for the first time. But defense, especially in the playoffs, still rules. After two Game 7s finished up the second round, the NBA conference finals are set. During the NBA playoffs, The Athletic’s writers will make their straight-up picks. That year, the Heat beat the Celtics in six games in the conference final.

In anticipation of the Eastern Conference Finals, members of our NBA staff identify one matchup to watch and make their picks for the series and the ...

I believe there is a layer of revenge to this series after Boston fell to Miami in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020. The officials will probably play a part in this matchup as well, but it's the Conference Finals and I expect them to let the players play a bit. The Celtics also have enough X-Factors that I trust to step up in big moments if Tatum or Brown are having an off-night. Defensively, the Celtics have made life difficult for Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday this postseason. It hasn't been Brown's best showing on the defensive end so far these playoffs. He's been a menace this postseason, averaging 28.7 points per game on 52.5 percent shooting from the field. It's only right for the Celtics to earn the first Bob Cousy Eastern Conference Finals trophy, and it will be Jayson Tatum who takes home the first Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP. It's kind of fitting that the first Larry Bird MVP goes to a Celtic. I think it ends up being Jayson Tatum. For the Celtics to get to where I expect them to go, Tatum will have to be the man. This will be Brown's fourth Conference Finals and Tatum's third Conference Finals. To me, it feels like this duo, with this supporting cast around them, is ready to get over the hump and get to the NBA Finals. I expect that Spo will sick Tucker on Tatum and I wonder if over the course of this seven-game series if Tucker's physicality will wear on Tatum. Tucker isn't going to be able to stay in front of Tatum consistently if he's not able to bump him a little. "Playoff Jimmy" is no joke. The No. 1 seed Heat got here with series wins over the Hawks and 76ers while the No. 2 seed Celtics made their way to the East Finals with a sweep of the Nets and a ripping seven-game series win over the defending-champion Bucks.

The Boston Celtics copped a brutal double injury blow on the eve of their Eastern Conference Finals campaign, with both Al Horford and Marcus Smart ruled ...

In his absence, the Celtics took an eight-point lead at the half. Heat’s impactful bench star Tyler Herro joined the game and immediately scored a three-pointer and quickly added three assists in as many minutes, kickstarting an offensive run. A full 42 of Boston’s 62 points came in the paint. The Celtics replied with a strong finish to the first quarter, going in to the first break up 28-25. He added four rebounds and five assists. The Celtics finished the first quarter up 28-25 and extended that to 62-54 at the half, having led by as many as nine points in the first stanza and 13 in the second.

The Boston Celtics come off a grueling seven-game series against the Milwaukee Bucks and now visit the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals on ...

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The Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Follow along right here.

8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. The game will tip-off shortly after 8:30 p.m. ET and be played at the FTX Arena in Miami. 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Additionally, the Celtics will be missing Al Horford, who has entered the league's health and safety protocols. - Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

The second-seeded Celtics have dropped four straight Eastern Conference finals, including three in a four-season stretch from 2017-20. While Miami has ...

"If both teams are really on top of their games, this should be a series where neither team is scoring 130 points. Both teams play hard, but both teams defensively are tops in the league, or one of the best for sure. "He's one of the best in the game right now," Butler said of Tatum. "As much attention as he draws on the offensive end -- and then I think what's really impressive is the way that he's picked up his defensive intensity. The Heat will be without point guard Kyle Lowry (left hamstring) for the seventh time in the past nine games. "He took a pretty bad fall, got bent up," Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. "It's the playoffs, and I feel like the deeper that you go, it's more intense, it's physical," veteran big man Al Horford said on Monday. "Even though the first round was very physical for us, it's not going to be any different. "This is like a throwback series," Spoelstra said. You got to tip your hat to that and respect him. Butler, a six-time All-Star, has topped 30 points five times in 10 starts this postseason. "Our guys love competition and love being challenged," Spoelstra said on Monday. "They love taking on big challenges. "Obviously, I was tired after every game and things like that, but my body has matured since my third season. They do it on both ends."

The Miami Heat pulled out a 118-107 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the 2022 Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night.

It isn't entirely surprising to see Vincent make an impact for the Heat, given he showed some flashes of this in the second round against the 76ers, but I imagine not many predicted that he would be the second-leading scorer among the starters for the Heat tonight. His third-quarter performance was one of the reasons the Heat managed to work up such a big lead, as he put up 10 points while playing all 12 minutes in the third quarter. One of the major storylines for the Heat heading into Game 1 was how this team would handle playing against a defense like the Celtics without their starting point guard in Kyle Lowry, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Boston needed that production in the third quarter when Tatum was getting swarmed and no one else could generate points. But the blame can't be entirely placed on Tatum's shoulders for that third-quarter performance. It resulted in just five points from the superstar forward, who struggled to find his shot again after a hot start to the game. Things really fell apart for the Celtics in the third quarter, as they got outscored 39-14 out of halftime after leading by eight points after 24 minutes. Butler's right, Pritchard, and everyone else Boston tried to stick on him couldn't contain him and it resulted in an explosive performance from the Heat forward, who now has scored 40 or more points three times in these playoffs. Miami turned up the pressure on defense in the second half, and made life difficult for Jayson Tatum and Boston. Tatum finished the game with 29 points (21 in the first half), while Jaylen Brown added 24 points. The Miami Heat pulled out a 118-107 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the 2022 Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night. Butler also finished with three blocks, the last one of which felt like a statement, as he stuffed Tatum on a corner 3-point attempt in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. But it wasn't just Butler's scoring that made a difference for the Heat, he was getting it done with his playmaking, rebounding and perhaps most importantly his defense.

The CelticsBlog crew picks their winners in the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Tatum is far better than he was two years ago when the Heat defeated the Celtics in the bubble playoffs. The Celtics have the defenders to slow down Jimmy Butler and they are better equipped to put a body on Bam. Ultimately I trust the Celtics offense to get buckets more than the Heat. Bobby Manning: Allow me to zag and give the Heat the respect I didn’t in 2020. They just took down the defending champions – a team I believe is better than the Heat – and in a few weeks, Boston will make its first finals appearance in 12 years. That will be the difference in a hard-fought series. Surviving Milwaukee and winning 2 straight - convincingly - with their backs against the wall should provide this team a massive momentum boost against the Heat. I know it’s a quick turnaround from the last series to this one, but I don’t think it will hurt the Celtics, considering how strong they looked in games 6&7 against Milwaukee. And if that were to happen, and the Celtics go 3-0 at TD Garden, Boston in six is the result. They’re the number-one seed in the conference for a reason; they remained that way throughout the season for a reason. The quick turnaround somewhat concerns me, but Boston has been the best team in the league since late January, and I don’t see this Heat team slowing them down. The Celtics are playing more connected than a Celtics team has in almost 15 years. They want some revenge in the rematch, and they have an excellent chance to get it. I don’t think the Celtics lose a game in Boston. They’re going to have to win a game on the road, and if I had to guess, that’ll be in Game 1 or 2.

Jimmy Butler put up 41 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the win, while Tyler Herro added 18 points off the bench for the Heat. Miami turned up the ...

It isn't entirely surprising to see Vincent make an impact for the Heat, given he showed some flashes of this in the second round against the 76ers, but I imagine not many predicted that he would be the second-leading scorer among the starters for the Heat tonight. His third-quarter performance was one of the reasons the Heat managed to work up such a big lead, as he put up 10 points while playing all 12 minutes in the third quarter. One of the major storylines for the Heat heading into Game 1 was how this team would handle playing against a defense like the Celtics without their starting point guard in Kyle Lowry, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Boston needed that production in the third quarter when Tatum was getting swarmed and no one else could generate points. But the blame can't be entirely placed on Tatum's shoulders for that third-quarter performance. It resulted in just five points from the superstar forward, who struggled to find his shot again after a hot start to the game. Things really fell apart for the Celtics in the third quarter, as they got outscored 39-14 out of halftime after leading by eight points after 24 minutes. Butler's right, Pritchard, and everyone else Boston tried to stick on him couldn't contain him and it resulted in an explosive performance from the Heat forward, who now has scored 40 or more points three times in these playoffs. Miami turned up the pressure on defense in the second half, and made life difficult for Jayson Tatum and Boston. Tatum finished the game with 29 points (21 in the first half), while Jaylen Brown added 24 points. The Miami Heat pulled out a 118-107 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the 2022 Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night. Butler also finished with three blocks, the last one of which felt like a statement, as he stuffed Tatum on a corner 3-point attempt in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. But it wasn't just Butler's scoring that made a difference for the Heat, he was getting it done with his playmaking, rebounding and perhaps most importantly his defense.

Jimmy Butler's scoring barrage, Boston's shorthanded crew comes up short and more takeaways from the opener in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals.

And at times, the Heat are going to need Butler and Herro to just manufacture offense out of nothing. The Celtics scored 31 points on their first 18 possessions of the fourth quarter. But those 30 minutes included all 12 of the fourth quarter, when the Heat made Pritchard the target of their offense. But he’s shooting better from the field and it seems he’s just getting started with the foul drawing. Miami has now won the third quarter in 11 of their 12 games, and in the other (Game 5 vs. I think that’s the style of basketball I like to play. You see a guy do a crazy block like that and you know the energy gets into the crowd. But the most resounding sequence was a stretch of four straight stops, authored by Butler and Bam Adebayo. Butler isn’t like those other guys, but he sure knows how to draw (and emphasize) a foul. In fact, their 25-point differential in the third is tied for the best differential for any team in any quarter in these playoffs. MIAMI — Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals was a game of runs. Jimmy Butler led the way with 41 points and is now averaging 33.8 points on 56% shooting over his last five games.

BOTTOM LINE: The Miami Heat host the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Heat won the last matchup 118-107 on May ...

The Heat have gone 35-17 against Eastern Conference teams. The Heat won the last matchup 118-107 on May 18 led by 41 points from Jimmy Butler, while Jayson Tatum scored 29 points for the Celtics. Miami is eighth in the Eastern Conference scoring 110.0 points while shooting 46.7% from the field. BOTTOM LINE: The Miami Heat host the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals with a 1-0 lead in the series. Miami Heat (53-29, first in the Eastern Conference) Boston Celtics (51-31, second in the Eastern Conference) vs.

Al Horford is in the league's health and safety protocols and Marcus Smart has a midfoot sprain, as Boston was minus two starters for Game 1 -- and ...

This marks the third time Horford has been placed in the league's health and safety protocols. "It's disappointing. "It's unsure," Udoka said before the game, when asked how long Horford might be out. But there are different protocols and tests that have to be passed, and we'll know going forward, but it's not a definite that he's out for two games." Wait to see results and tests and future tests." "As always, we don't comment on the status of our guys," Udoka said.

The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics and No. 1 seed Miami Heat face off on Thursday at FTX Arena in Miami in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series.

Therefore, I'll take the Heat in Game 2 at -4." Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Both teams are averaging 96.7 possessions during the postseason, which would rank last in the league during the regular season. The Celtics don’t play a ton of guys as it is, and they’ve been playing every other day now for weeks, logging big minutes, and that’s going to take its toll. The Miami Heat are deep and a feisty defensive team that only makes things that much worse for Boston. Not to mention, Jimmy Butler is playing out of his mind right now and seems to be a man on a mission. Take the under. Jason Radowitz writes: "This series likely comes down to the final three games. The Heat have yet to lose at home these playoffs, and they’re winning those games by an average of 14.7 points. More: Boston Celtics vs. More: Boston Celtics vs. The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics and No. 1 seed Miami Heat face off on Thursday at FTX Arena in Miami in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series.