Tag: 2022 Eastern Conference finals

Celtics injury update: Boston Robert Williams III questionable for Game 3; Heat’s Lowry, Tucker may play

Any of these three being able to suit up will have a notable effect on Game 3.

The Boston Celtics’ relative health heading into Game 3 against the Miami Heat just took a hit at exactly the same moment that the Heat are looking like they will have two key players back in the fold who were looking doubtful heading into the first game on Boston’s home court of TD Garden.

Saturday afternoon, the Celtics revealed that big man Robert Williams III had been downgraded to questionable with soreness in his left knee — the same one he had operated on to repair a torn meniscus in March. Earlier in the morning, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra revealed that both PJ Tucker (knee contusion) and Kyle Lowry (hamstring) would warm up “with the intention to play” earlier in the day after the team’s shootaround.

While there is no guarantee either Lowry or Tucker will be healthy enough to impact winning, the same could be said for Timelord if his knee is bothering him enough to be downgraded thus.

And for two teams who depend on these players to play as the best version of themselves, the availability or lack thereof for any of this trio will have a notable effect on Game 3.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Al Horford opens up on how he ended up in protocols ahead of Game 1 vs. the Miami Heat

‘I … felt like I needed to get tested,’ he explained postgame, potentially preventing infecting his teammates.

The Boston Celtics needed Al Horford in a big way for Game 2 of their East finals series against the Miami Heat, and the Florida product delivered, helping buttress Boston on both ends on the way to a 127-102 blowout that evened the series at 1-1. But it nearly didn’t happen, with Horford clearing the league’s health and safety protocols just hours before tipoff on Thursday.

Considerable confusion surrounded what exactly had happened to put the Boston big man in the protocols to begin with, given the Celtics’ policy of keeping such matters close to the vest and news of several members of the team’s traveling party testing positive breaking about the same time.

After Boston’s victory over Miami, Horford opened up about the cause of his entry into the protocols, sharing how he decided to do the responsible thing and get tested upon feeling out of sorts.

Celtics grab huge 127-102 Game 2 victory, even series 1-1: highlights

The Boston Celtics erupted for an emphatic 127-102 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. Check out the highlights from the big win.

The Boston Celtics needed a big turnaround heading into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, and boy oh boy did they deliver. Though the Miami Heat led by as much as eight points in the first quarter, once the Celtics dialed in, it was blouses for the Heat. Boston exploded on offense, anchored by lights-out shooting from deep and stingy defense. The Celts built a 70-45 lead at halftime, and continued to dominate until the final horn. It was a huge statement win for a team looking to get into gear.

Bringing Marcus Smart and Al Horford back was huge for the Celtics. The offense had more rhythm and purpose, and Boston had Miami looking confused on the defensive end. Marcus Smart was particularly good, pouring in 24 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, meanwhile, played to their star potential, something sorely lacking in Game 1. Tatum and Brown finished with a collective 61 points on a combined 17-30 from the floor. The action now heads to Boston, where the Celtics will look to expand on their statement Game 2 victory.

Check out the highlights from Thursday’s action, thanks to our friends at NBC Sports Boston.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Celtics, NBA Twitter react to Boston’s 127-102 beatdown of the Miami Heat in Game 2

A historic first half drove a blowout win on the road for Boston in Game 2.

The Boston Celtics showed up to Game 2 of their East finals series with the Miami Heat healthier and with a chip on their shoulders after getting waxed by the Heat in Game 1 without veteran Celtics Marcus Smart and Al Horford available to play.

The game started with a hot Miami run that put Boston down by as much as 10 points in the game’s first frame but saw the Celtics respond massively to destroy the Heat in the subsequent three quarters to win the game in a 127-102 blowout. Now, with the series knotted up at 1 game each, the Eastern Conference semifinals shift to Boston’s home court of TD Garden.

NBA and Celtics Twitter took to the league’s unofficial social media site to talk about the brutal beatdown Boston delivered to the Heat — let’s take a look at what they had to say.

Marcus Smart crossed up Max Strus, and the Boston Celtics bench was loving it

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Marcus Smart broke down Miami’s Max Strus in a big way. Boston’s bench absolutely loved it.

The Boston Celtics blitzed the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, securing a huge road win as the series heads back to the Hub. The Celtics with more poise, energy, and focus than they did in Game 1. Boston welcomed back both Al Horford and Marcus Smart to the action, no doubt a huge boost to the team’s confidence and play-making. Smart in particular was the quarterback the Celtics desperately needed at the point guard position.

Smart’s return gave Boston’s offense a new purpose, but that doesn’t mean the veteran guard didn’t provide his own scoring punch. He finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, twelve assists, and three steals.

One play, in particular, highlighted Smart’s growing dominance as a point guard. In this play here, not only does Marcus Smart have Miami’s Max Strus completely fooled, but the Celtics bench absolutely loved it. Check it out:

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Celtics at Heat: Boston turns Miami’s offense ice cold at home, beat the Heat 127-102

Some of the best plays from Game 2 captured in images.

The Boston Celtics took the Miami Heat’s best shot in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference finals series on Tuesday and got smacked, but returned the favor and then some in Game 2, obliterating the Heat on their own home court 127-102.

Big games from Boston All-Star forward Jayson Tatum (27 points, 5 rebounds, and as many assists), star forward Jaylen Brown (24 points, 8 rebounds), and veteran point guard Marcus Smart (24 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals) secured the blowout win, with reserve forward Grant Williams adding 19 points off of the bench.

The series now heads back to Boston with the series tied 1-1 as the Celtics begin their East finals play on their home court of TD Garden — let’s take a look at some of the best plays of the game captured in images.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

Al Horford upgraded to available for Celtics against Miami Heat in Game 2

Horford has been a key part of the team’s success this season.

The Boston Celtics relayed they will have veteran big man Al Horford available to play against the Miami Heat in Game 2 of their 2022 NBA Eastern Conference finals series Thursday night. Presumably, the University of Florida product has cleared the league’s health and safety protocols with the requisite two negative tests in a 24-hour period, with multiple sources reporting that the Boston big man was waiting on test results to clear him to exit the protocol.

This development considerably expands Boston’s frontcourt rotation and augments the team considerably on both ends of the court, Horford quietly being a major cog in what was the No. 1 defense in the league’s 2021-22 regular season and an efficient source of shooting for the Celtics in the 2022 NBA Playoffs’ earlier rounds.

With reserve guard Derrick White Boston-bound for the birth of his first child, the Celtics will remain a little thin in the backcourt until they know whether veteran point guard Marcus Smart will be available to return from a sprained foot sustained in Game 7 of the last round.

The Flower Mound native is trending in the right direction with his status being upgraded to probable for Game 2, but remains a game-time decision per head coach Ime Udoka.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Celtics injury update: Al Horford upgraded to questionable vs. Heat in Game 2; Marcus Smart probable

Al Horford may be able to clear the league’s health and safety protocol before tipoff Thursday night if all goes well with testing, per reports.

The Boston Celtics have upgraded big man Al Horford to questionable from doubtful for the team’s Game 2 contest against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski adding that the “Celtics have continued testing Al Horford with the hope that he can exit health and safety protocols prior to Game 2.”

Teammate Marcus Smart is currently listed as probable with a sprained foot sustained in Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks in Boston’s second-round series against the 2021 NBA champions but remains a game-time decision.

Stay tuned for more details on this developing story.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Boston Celtics at Miami Heat: 2022 NBA playoffs Game 2 Eastern Conference finals (5/19)

Everything you need to know about Thursday’s Game 2 matchup between Boston and Miami.

The Boston Celtics will play the Miami Heat in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series on the road this Thursday night, as the team looks to avoid falling into a 0-2 series deficit for the second time in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The Heat, in turn, will look to capitalize on the Celtics’ recent injuries and their Game 1 win by defending their home court.

If you happen to be looking for a way to watch the action live on cable television or an online streaming service, keep reading while we get you up to speed on everything you need to know about the game.

Let’s begin with who ought to be available to play.

Celtics Lab 112: How can Boston respond to getting smacked by the Miami Heat in Game 2?

And while we’re at it, what do we know about the state of several key players’ health?

The Boston Celtics started off their Eastern Conference finals series against the Miami Heat with an excellent first half, only to get punched hard in the mouth in the game’s third quarter by the Heat’s increased physicality.

The team crumpled like a wet cardboard box until they found their legs too late in the fourth quarter to mount a successful comeback, squandering an opportunity to steal a win on the road with Miami point guard Kyle Lowry unavailable. What can the Celtics do in Game 2 to adjust, if anything? How is the health of Marcus Smart, Al Horford, and Robert Williams III? Could a COVID outbreak do more damage to the team’s roster at nearly the worst possible time?

In this episode of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast, hosts Cameron Tabatabaie and Justin Quinn try and predict what might be coming down the pike in this series in terms of both health and potential adjustments.

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The Celtics get a shot at redemption on Friday with a potential return to action for Smart to boot — but does this team have enough to win in Miami? Listen to hear our perspective on what we expect to see.

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This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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