ABOUT THE CELTICS (47-34): Boston was outscored 25-16 in the fourth quarter in a loss at Atlanta on Saturday and were blitzed 39-13 in the second period Monday while allowing at least 50 percent shooting in both games along with 31 3-pointers combined.
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Heat: Five points in third quarter was a season-low in a quarter…. F Dorell Wright, who played in China this season and signed with the Heat on Tuesday, was available again against the Celtics.
And for that putrid effort, the Heat still found themselves… with a rewarding night.
The Heat, Hawks, Celtics and Hornets all finished 48-34, but Miami is the No. 3 seed – despite being swept 3-0 in the season series by Boston – because it’s the only division victor of the four teams, having edged division rivals Atlanta and Charlotte in tiebreakers.
The Boston Celtics hope to secure home court in the first round with a victory. “We played 82 games to get into the playoffs, and we played 82 games to get what seed we were going to get”.
Finishing as the three-seed means that Miami can only face the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Not quite, just one to reflect on good fortune and one incredibly terrible stretch of basketball.
The Heat will face the Hornets in the first round. We’re talking the Celtics’ postseason path, the Red Sox’ shaky home opener, and the often-neglected New England Revolution.
Heat: Will face Charlotte in the first round.
After the second-year player confronted Dragic, teammates from both squads became involved, including Miami’s Udonis Haslem and Boston’s Evan Turner. The Hawks would then hold the individual tiebreaker against the Celtics, bumping Boston to No. 5.
Miami was cruising toward a victory in Boston, but the Heat were limited to five points in the third quarter and blew a 26-point lead in a 98-88 loss. Had the Heat lost in Detroit, they would have ended up as the No. 6 seed in the East. Goran Dragic added 18 points and Dwyane Wade finished with 17.
The Heat started off strong, but this time on defense forcing a 24 second violation on Boston. Miami swingman Justise Winslow, who was questionable with a sprained left ankle, was able to play.
And the Heat did it was an aggressive tenacity on the boards and with measured restrain on offense, after being done in by turnovers in the teams’ previous two meetings.
“You have to give a great deal of credit to Boston”, Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said.
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The Houston Rockets will get another shot at Golden State, while the Miami Heat took the hard way to a No. 3 seed. Going out there and playing Celtic basketball.
