Boston Celtics and Miami Heat will be at loggerheads for the round 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals series in the ongoing American Basketball League 2019-20.
Match Timings: Sep 18, 4:30 AM IST
Team Preview
Miami Heat enters this game taking a 1-0 lead in the first round against the Celtics by 117:114. They had a lowkey start as the Celtics outscored them by 26:18 in the first quarter. However, the likes of Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic started discharging a glimpse of the red-hot form and bounced back in the second and fourth quarters respectively. Bam Adebayo was the leader with nine assists as he put up 19 points and six rebounds. While Tyler Herro also had nine assists on his name and also protected the rim by registering 11 assists.
Jimmy Butler continued to put in teeth in the post-season by serving 20 points including 5 rebounds and as many assists. Overall, the Heat is 5th in the league in scoring with 112.6 points per game and they are fifth in the league in defensive rebounds with 36.2 DRPG per game.
Celtics had a promising start in the last match as they managed to put the Heat at the bay on most of the occasions. But the over-time cost them as Miami Heat capitalized on the extra minutes and hence won the first-round contest.
In the loss, Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and also emerged as the leader of the side with 14 rebounds. His average has dipped in the post-season but he has been a vital cog of the roster so far. Marcus Smart was the second-highest scorer as he cashed out 26 points (three rebounds and one assist). But this time around, the Celtics will have a concern to fix before heading to the second round by working on the center so as to improve their numbers on both offensive and defensive ends.
Possible Lineups
Boston Celtics
Kemba Walker (PG), Marcus Smart (SG), Jaylen Brown (SF), Jayson Tatum (PF), Daniel Theis (C)
Miami Heat
Goran Dragic (PG), Jimmy Butler (PF), Duncan Robinson (SG), Jae Crowder (SF), Bam Adebayo (C)
Key Players
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum (PF): 23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Kemba Walker (PG): 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists
Jaylen Brown (SG): 20.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Miami Heat
Goran Dragic (PG): 16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Jimmy Butler (SG/SF): 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists
Bam Adebayo (C): 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists
