Celtics

Ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics were dealt a few major blows. Hours before the series opener, it was announced that starting ...

8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Here is everything you need to know about his status and the NBA's health and safety protocols. Games will be played every other day during the Eastern Conference Finals. Horford, 35, has turned back the clock during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, posting averages of 13.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists on .524/.451/.833 shooting splits through Boston's first 11 playoff games.

The Miami Heat have finalized their injury report for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.

- SHOULD THE BUCKS MAKE A TRADE? On Sunday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks lost Game 7 to the Boston Celtics, which officially ends their 2021-22 NBA season in the second-round. Meanwhile, the Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks in the first-round, and then they beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the second-round. The Heat are the first seed in the Eastern Conference, so they will have the home-court advantage against the Celtics for the series.

Max Sussman brings the picks for the Eastern Conference Finals between a physical Boston Celtics and a Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat.

When Boston rose to meet Milwaukee’s physicality, the series started to feel a little like a football game at times. The team that wins Game 1 in an NBA playoff series goes on to win 75.6 per cent of the time. Horford was amazing against the Bucks, but he’s 35 years old and just had to guard the NBA’s premier Destroyer of Souls for seven games. Boston in seven is the pick. I think it would be a mistake to underestimate just how physical Boston’s series with Milwaukee was. The Miami Heat have had a much smoother path to this point, having walked through Atlanta in the first round before beating a Philadelphia team that was coming apart at the seams. I trust Al Horford to make shots. When Miami gets bogged down in half court offence, Herro needs to be a reliable secondary playmaker. I trust Jayson Tatum to make shots. Boston took their season series 2-1, with only one of those games (Miami’s 106-98 win in Boston in March) being particularly close. The Dallas Mavericks ripped out Phoenix’s collective heart with a 123-90 drubbing that helped me back my way into a win (I had Dallas +6.5 but I specifically said I thought the Suns would win the game). They play the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. The conference semifinals wrapped up with one of the most stunning Game 7 results in recent memory.

Our experts break down who they think will win the Eastern Conference finals and preview Tuesday night's Game 1.

Tatum will be the main focus of Miami's defense and Brown has hit over 2.5 3s in four of his past seven games. Second, Miami has been excellent at home this year, winning 29 games during the regular season (most in the Eastern Conference and fourth most in the NBA) before posting a 6-0 mark SU and 5-1 ATS this postseason. There will be games under 204 points in this series, but I don't believe it will be in Game 1. The Celtics just had a record-setting 3-point shooting performance in Game 7 against the Bucks, and their scorers are locked in at the moment. Brooklyn and Milwaukee both ranked 14th or worse in defensive rating and 11th or better in pace during the regular season. Butler is going to have to carry a lot of the load for the Heat, but he is capable of delivering on the big stage. There is a possibility of a mismatch with Brown going up against the Heat's lesser defenders. Tatum and Butler will provide plenty of entertainment in the series as both are among the top five scorers this postseason. The Celtics went 2-1 against the Heat in the regular season, with both of their wins being blowouts. Best bet: Celtics to win series in 6 games (-1.5, +105). These two teams match up very well, with elite defenses and wing-led offenses. Miami is excellent at switching defenders and will challenge Boston more than the Bucks and Nets did. The books are well aware of that and have lowered the Heat's expectations accordingly, but is that the right move?

Boston was already bracing for Smart to be out, after he injured his foot on Sunday, but losing Horford was a surprise blow to the Celtics.

“We’ve unfortunately had quite a bit of practice with this early in the season due to injury and COVID situations,” Udoka said. Smart played in six of the seven games against Milwaukee. He missed Game 2 because of a quad injury. Miami is still missing one starter: The Heat had already ruled point guard Kyle Lowry out for Game 1 because of a hamstring injury. This has become kind of the normal prep: Expect the unexpected. “As always, we don’t comment on the status of our guys,” Udoka said. Horford averaged 13.0 points and a team-best 10.4 rebounds in the Celtics’ seven-game win over Milwaukee, starting all those contests.

Al Horford has been ruled out for Game 1 between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

- SHOULD THE BUCKS MAKE A TRADE? On Sunday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks lost Game 7 to the Boston Celtics, which officially ends their 2021-22 NBA season in the second-round. The two teams played in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020, and the Heat won the series. The Boston Celtics are in Florida to take on the Miami Heat for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night, and there has been a huge update to their injury report for the game.

Ime Udoka on the third quarter: "We got out-toughed and out-physicaled. They looked like they want to up their physicality and aggression and we looked like ...

That made it 112-99 with 3:18 on the clock, prompting coach Udoka to call for a full timeout. Butler utilized that mismatch to help generate a game-high 41 points, going 17/18 at the free-throw line, and paired that production with nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks, leading his team in each category but that last one. He then attacked off the dribble and swung the ball to Strus, who swished a three from 27 feet. With 9:27 to play in the period, Vincent swished a three from 25 feet. But after that, Vincent continued having a terrific night, finding Tucker for a three from the right corner. With 8:21 left, Grant Williams cut into the paint, and as the ball came his way, a forceful collision between he and Adebayo resulted in both players being down on the court in pain. Pritchard then buried a three from the left corner to bring Boston within 14. With a minute left in the frame, Tatum drove into the paint and got two points courtesy of a floater to put Boston back on top 25-23. At the 2:59 mark, Grant Williams picked up his fourth foul, crashing into Tucker after a bad pass from Brown resulted in a turnover. Butler countered with a jumper from 20-feet, bringing the score to 62-54 Boston at halftime. As for the hosts, Miami produced 24 points in the paint, eight at the free-throw line, and eight off seven Celtics turnovers. Brown then made a nice pass to Williams for another bucket at the basket, giving him eight points at the 4:23 mark.

Horford entered the league's COVID-19 protocols, and Smart has a right foot sprain suffered Sunday in Boston's Game 7 win over Milwaukee.

Celtics writers Jared Weiss and Jay King join senior writer Joe Vardon to examine the Eastern Conference finals. Smart was ruled out before even arriving at the arena Tuesday. "The soreness was too much to go,” Prep and expect the unexpected.” Horford would have to return two negative tests between now and Thursday to be able to play. “Every team has had a lot of experience with this. Horford is averaging 13.0 points and 9.4 rebounds this postseason, including a 30-point, 8-rebound performance against the Bucks in Game 4 of that series.

MIAMI (AP) - Jimmy Butler scored 41 points, and the Miami Heat turned things around with a huge third quarter ...

Butler had 17 alone in the third, outscoring the Celtics by himself over those 12 minutes. Tyler Herro scored 18 and Gabe Vincent added 17 for the Heat, who outscored Boston 39-14 in the third quarter. Butler did it for Heat in beating Celtics 118-107 in Game 1

Boston Celtics centre Al Horford and guard Marcus Smart are out for Tuesday's Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.

Horford is averaging 13 points and 9.4 rebounds, shooting .524/.451/.833 this post-season. That would bring Horford's availability for Game 2 in Miami on Thursday into question -- and possibly longer. The 35-year-old broke out with 30 points to lead the Celtics in a crucial Game 4 win over the Bucks in Round 2. "As always, we don't comment on the status of our guys,'' Udoka said. Typically, it has taken players who test positive a minimum of five days to escape the protocols. "He's feeling fine.

oston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is still questionable to play Tuesday night when his team begins its Eastern Conference Finals series against the Miami ...

The veteran point guard plays an important role in Boston's defense as the Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. If Smart doesn't play, Celtics guards Derrick White and Payton Pritchard should receive more playing time than normal. He can defend all five positions and shut down the league's top perimeter scorers.

The Miami Heat have recently won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics on their home court. There is no doubt that this is a ...

It is clear that this is not the case, and they are truly an elite team, bubble or not. The Miami Heat were obviously the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for a reason, and they are an elite defensive team. The Miami Heat have recently won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics on their home court.

Jimmy Butler scored 41 points, and the Miami Heat turned things around with a huge third quarter on the way to beating the short-handed Boston Celtics ...

... Boston scored 18 points of the first 6 1/2 minutes of the first half, then two points in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half. The previous low for field goals made in the opening 6:00 of a half by the Celtics this season, including playoffs, was one in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 7. Boston was outscored by 28 points in the fourth quarter by Chicago on Nov. 1. Miami outscored Charlotte by 27 in the third quarter on Feb. 5. Smart's absence was somewhat expected because of a mid-foot sprain he suffered in Game 7 of the East semifinals against Milwaukee on Sunday. A 22-2 run was how Miami started the second half, the run punctuated by steals that led to baskets on three consecutive possessions. ... Butler's 15th point _ a free throw 16 seconds into the second half _ gave him 14,000 for his career, including playoffs. Strus had one, the next two by Butler pushed the lead out to 76-64, and the Heat were off and running. Tyler Herro scored 18 and Gabe Vincent added 17 for the Heat, who outscored Boston 39-14 in the third quarter. That's a totally different thing and he does that as well as anybody in this league.'' Along with the 41 points, the rest of Butler's line: nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocked shots. ``There's a lot of guys in this league that are playing basketball.

Jimmy Butler scored 41 points, and the Miami Heat turned things around with a huge third quarter on the way to beating the short-handed Boston Celtics ...

Strus had one, the next two by Butler pushed the lead out to 76-64, and the Heat were off and running. Smart's absence was somewhat expected because of a mid-foot sprain he suffered in Game 7 of the East semifinals against Milwaukee on Sunday. A 22-2 run was how Miami started the second half, the run punctuated by steals that led to baskets on three consecutive possessions. "Honestly, it was a team effort." Tyler Herro scored 18 and Gabe Vincent added 17 for the Heat, who outscored Boston 39-14 in the third quarter. That's a totally different thing and he does that as well as anybody in this league."

Jimmy Butler scored 17 of his 41 points in an epic third-quarter uprising to help the host Miami Heat rally for a 118-107 victory over the Boston Celtics ...

Herro was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer and made all three free throws to give Miami a 96-76 lead with 10:45 left in the contest. Boston shot just 13.3% (2 of 15) from the field in the period. Miami opened the third quarter with a 22-2 burst to turn an eight-point halftime deficit into a 76-64 lead. Butler also contributed nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocked shots to help Miami overcome a 13-point, second-quarter deficit. Article content Article content

Jimmy Butler a été étincelant avec une performance de 41 points, alors que le Heat a vaincu les Celtics 118 à 107 lors du premier match de la finale de ...

« J'ai continué à jouer au basket de la bonne façon. À mettre des tirs ouverts. On a fait beaucoup d'efforts. Ça a été une corvée tout le match face à ces gars-là. Et ce sera la même chose à chaque rencontre », a commenté Butler, après avoir planté 27 points durant ces 24 dernières minutes. Grâce à 41 pts de Butler, le Heat démarre la finale de l'Est en trombe face aux CelticsNBA mardi, 17 mai 2022. C'était une 7e absence pour l'ancien des Raptors de Toronto lors des présentes séries. « Nous avons perdu notre sang-froid au 3e quart. « On se devait de réagir, c'est ce qui a fait changer les choses.