As the Miami Heat prepare to take on the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, a look at three things to watch.
Walking into Saturday night’s matchup, the Miami Heat have now won 10 of 11 playoff games this postseason. Two of those have been against the Boston Celtics, with Game 3 set to tip-off at 8:30 pm EST on Saturday night. Coverage will be provided by ESPN.
Thursday night’s Game 2 was anything short of uneventful, with the Heat climbing back from a 17-point deficit in the second quarter and outscoring the Celtics 37-17 in the third. Boston’s proved as even a matchup as any this postseason for this surprising Miami team.
Jimmy Butler had an off night on Thursday but impacted the game in his own ways. All-Star big Bam Adebayo took to a new role, slamming and jamming dunks aplenty in the third quarter, and making his presence known to Daniel Theis on the offensive glass.
For Boston, it was Kemba Walker who found his stride. The point guard had been struggling this postseason but ended Game 2 with 23 points on nine-of-19 shooting from the field.
Now, forward Gordon Hayward is set to make a series debut in Game 3, which adds a new defensive element for the Heat’s game plan and strategy. He’s an All-Star caliber wing when healthy, and (if healthy) his return could sway the momentum of this series.
A look at three things to watch for as the Miami Heat look to make it a three-game series lead.