Preview: Heat hoping to carry momentum into Game 2 against Celtics
TV: ESPN
TIME: 7 p.m.
POSTGAME COVERAGE LIVE ON FOX SPORTS FLORIDA & FOX SPORTS GO
Miami Heat (44-29, fifth in the Eastern Conference during the regular season) vs. Boston Celtics (48-24, third in the Eastern Conference during the regular season)
LINE
Celtics -1.5; over/under is 209.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Heat lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE
The Miami Heat take on the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Heat won the last matchup 117-114. Goran Dragic scored 29 points to help lead Miami to the win and Jayson Tatum recorded 30 points in the loss for Boston.
The Celtics are 30-13 against conference opponents. Boston averages 13.8 turnovers per game and is 31-13 when it wins the turnover battle.
The Heat have gone 30-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami averages 14.9 turnovers per game and is 25-12 when turning the ball over more than opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS
Marcus Smart leads the Celtics with 4.9 assists, and scores 12.9 points per game. Tatum is averaging 24.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists over the last 10 games for Boston.
Jimmy Butler leads the Heat averaging 6.0 assists while scoring 19.9 points per game. Dragic is averaging 21.9 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 47.0% over the last 10 games for Miami.
DURING THE PLAYOFFS
Celtics: Averaging 108.2 points, 45.0 rebounds, 21.3 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.4 points on 41.1% shooting.
Heat: Averaging 112.6 points, 44.5 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.7 points on 44.5% shooting.
INJURIES
Celtics: Vincent Poirier: out (personal), Javonte Green: out (knee), Gordon Hayward: out (ankle).
Heat: KZ Okpala: out (personal), Chris Silva: out (groin).