GAME PREVIEW: Heat head back to Boston looking to close the series out 4-1
After a flat performance in game 4, Miami has a chance for redemption tonight one win away from the NBA Finals.
Game Story:
The Miami Heat will get another crack at closing out the Boston Celtics tonight. Going into TD Garden with a 3-1 series lead, it is absolutely expected to be a hostile environment. Boston made it clear in game 4 that they will not go away without a fight, as they pounded the Heat on their home floor in the second half, winning the game by double digits. Miami’s offense went stagnant following halftime, and it was a struggle on both ends of the floor.
Jimmy Butler spoke to media after the game 4 loss, and brought some words of encouragement and optimism to the team and fan base:
“Only thing I’m going to say is we’ll be ok. Let’s get back to doing what we’ve always done to get to this point, continually having belief in one another, knowing we’re gonna win. And we will.”
Butler and Bam Adebayo specifically struggled. Butler still was able to put together a 29 point outing, but he was just 9/21 from the field. He missed a lot of bunnies right under the rim that Heat fans are so accustomed to seeing him make.
Adebayo has to find a way to be more assertive offensively tonight. Unlike Butler, he was more efficient scoring in game 4. However, the All-Star big man only attempted 7 shots, making 4 of them.
Even from before the season started, Adebayo was aiming to be more aggressive in searching for his shot. Saying that 18 shot attempts would be a good benchmark for him. The 7 shots he took last game was well off of that 18 attempt mark.
Adebayo has had a pretty solid playoffs, including a 22 point, 17 rebound, and 9 assist performance in game 2 of this Boston series just last week.
It will be crucial to see more offensive production from him tonight. Not only did he not attempt shots in game 4, but he only snatched 5 rebounds and was in foul trouble. That’s not going to get the job done.
Players like Kevin Love, Max Strus and Kyle Lowry have been particularly quiet in this series. Some sort of impact by at least 1 of those guys could go a long way.
Lowry is going to have his opportunity to prove his worth to this Miami Heat squad tonight. Gabe Vincent is listed as OUT due to a rolled ankle he suffered at the end of game 4, which is a devastating blow to the team.
Already without the services of two ball handlers in Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, now the Heat will be without the surging Gabe Vincent. Vincent dropped a career-high 29 points in game 3.
The injury gives veteran and former NBA champion Kyle Lowry the green light to have a stand out performance.
This is the reason why Lowry was signed to that hefty contract a few summers ago; for moments like this. He has that playoff experience and fans have seen flashes of vintage Lowry throughout his stint in South Beach.
Not only would this win be crucial to put away a strong team in Boston and advance to the NBA Finals, but it would allow a full week of rest before the next and final series begins. The rest could be needed by the entire roster, but Vincent especially who is fresh off a minor injury.
Miami will have a chip on their shoulder tonight, looking for revenge and a bounce back performance. Boston eliminated Miami on their home court last season, and now the Heat have a chance to do the same thing to the Celtics tonight.
Besides Vincent, the only other players on the report are Herro and Oladipo, who are again listed as out. Nobody new is on Boston’s injury report.
Tonight’s game will be nationally televised on TNT.
Injury Report:
MIAMI:
Gabe Vincent (ankle) — OUT
Tyler Herro (hand) — OUT
Victor Oladipo (knee) — OUT
BOSTON:
Danilo Gallinari (knee) — OUT
Probable Starters (at time of publishing):
MIAMI:
Jimmy Butler
Kevin Love
Bam Adebayo
Max Strus
Kyle Lowry
BOSTON:
Jayson Tatum
Al Horford
Robert Williams |||
Jaylen Brown
Marcus Smart
ODDS (via FanDuel)
Check the odds out at FanDuel!
Broadcast Info:
Tipoff: 8:30 PM EST
TV: TNT
Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!
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Lowry is going to need to play a few more minutes than normal, be his usually, pesky self and hopefully find his shot. Jimmy is going to need to assume more ball handling duties and be aggressive on offense from the start. Highsmith is going to need to pick up the slack on defense. Duncan is going to need to hit a few 3's. Bam, Zeller and the rest of the team will need to hit the boards (on both ends). Spo will need to substitute more frequently to keep fresh bodies on the floor at all times. It's time to close this series out! No excuses! No regrets!
GO HEAT!!!
That depth chart at the 1 really going through the wringer this year. We gna need Kyle to put his full bodacious backside into a serious carry job tonight