While the Heat continue to nurse some key injuries, the Celtics are virtually at full strength ahead of Game 2 of the first round. For the second straight game, only one player is listed on the injury report. Otherwise, the Celtics are at full strength.
Luke Kornet is listed as out with his right calf strain, making that his second straight game he will miss. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t sound like it was a serious injury for the big man as he hurt his calf last week during practices. Kornet had a solid regular season and was counted upon occasionally for the rotation. But the C’s have depth in front and behind Kornet, so they’ll look to keep adding to the win column.
Notably, Jayson Tatum isn’t on the injury report after his hard fall late in Game 1. But the C’s star popped right back, though his teammates did stand up for him. The Celtics themselves have also shrugged off the play, saying it wasn’t intentional, but that physical plays like that happen in the playoffs.
On the flip side, the Heat will continue to be without Jimmy Butler, who’s nursing an MCL injury that will keep him out weeks. Former Celtics guard Terry Rozier also won’t play in Wednesday’s Game 2.
The Celtics are looking for a 2-0 series lead on the Heat as heavy favorites. They easily downed the Heat in Game 1 by knocking down 22 3-pointers and getting out to a huge lead. While the Heat did come back to make the score somewhat respectable, it still went down as a 20-point win. But the Heat have a chance to steal a game in Boston heading into Games 3 and 4 in Miami.
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