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The Miami Heat (8th) and the Boston Celtics (1st) gear up to face each other for Game 1 of the first round of playoffs at the TD Garden in Boston on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 1:00 pm ET.
The much-anticipated series between the Heat and the Celtics is gaining traction as an Eastern Conference playoff classic rivalry. The last time these two teams faced each other in the playoffs was last year in the Eastern Conference finals. The Heat clinched the conference title in Game 7 of the series to advance to the NBA Finals.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics: Injury Reports for Game 1 (April 21)
Injuries play an amped-up role in the playoffs compared to the regular season given the strategic planning involved to win the best of seven series. The Boston Celtics are highly favored to secure the win on Sunday against the resilient and gritty Miami Heat, which may be in part because of the loss of key players due to injury.
Miami Heat
Miami Heat's star player Jimmy Butler is ruled out for the game and will remain out for the foreseeable future due to a sprained MCL on his right knee. Butler sustained the injury during the first round of the play-in tournament against the Philadelphia 76ers which the Heat lost 105-104.
However, the Heat were able to secure a playoff spot without Butler as they defeated the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in the second round of the play-in tournament.
The lack of Butler's involvement will be critical to the outcome of the upcoming series as the Heat take on the Celtics who have been dominating all season. The Celtics will look to capitalize on the Heat's star player's absence to clinch the series and redeem themselves from the Eastern Conference Finals loss they suffered against the Heat last year.
Moreover, Terry Rozier is also listed out for the game while Josh Richardson is listed out for the season. Duncan Robinson is listed as questionable and his involvement will be a game-time decision.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to use a starting lineup of Tyler Herro (PG), Jaime Jaquez Jr (SG), Caleb Martin (SF), Nikola Jovic (PF), and Bam Adebayo (C).
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics boast an almost healthy roster to take on the underhanded Heat team. They only have one player, Luke Kornet, on their injury report, who will be out for the game. The Celtics have one of the most all-rounded playing five in the NBA and the loss of Kornet will not be as crucial as the loss of key players for the Heat.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is expected to use a starting lineup of Jrue Holiday (PG), Derrick White (SG), Jaylen Brown (SF), Jayson Tatum (PF), and Kristaps Porzingis (C).
