The Boston Celtics will get an unexpected respite to regroup for Game 4 regardless of how their Game 3 against the Miami Heat goes on Monday, with the schedule for the fourth installment of their series with that team in the 2020 East Finals set to play on Wednesday, September 23rd.
The gap between Game 3 and 4 is twice as long as the usual two-day span adhered to throughout the postseason to this point due to the re-emergence of Monday Night Football, according to the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.
And with ratings such a critical part of both the NBA and NFL’s revenue situation in this pandemic-inflected year, it makes sense to juggle the schedule a little bit if it means a better chance for more eyes on the product in the end.
Celtics/Heat Game 4 will be Wednesday as MNF owns Monday. Could be helpful for Cs because two more days for Hayward.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) September 18, 2020
For the Celtics — as Himmelsbach notes — it will also give a few more days for veteran forward Gordon Hayward’s ankle to heal up.
While he is hoping for a Game 3 return to action, Hayward’s sprain was severe enough to require more than a month off to rehabilitate, and any cushion that can be mustered to give the Indiana native more time to return is likely going to help.
After the unusual four-day gap, the remainder of the East Finals schedule returns to its two-day pattern.
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