Kofi Inkoom
Boston Celtics’ Luke Kornet, who has been dealing with a calf injury, is now likely to play in Saturday’s Game 3 against Miami after being upgraded to probable.
Although he started the last two regular-season games, his role in the playoffs might not be substantial, especially if Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis remain healthy.
For the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler is out due to a knee issue, Terry Rozier is sidelined with neck spasms, Delon Wright is questionable due to personal reasons, and Josh Richardson is out following right shoulder surgery.
In regular-season matchups, the Celtics have consistently prevailed against the Heat, holding a historical record of 53 wins to 83 losses.
However, Miami has had a slightly better home record against Boston, with 30 wins and 40 losses. In the playoffs, the two teams have a longstanding rivalry, having faced each other six times, including multiple Eastern Conference Finals clashes.
Despite Boston’s overall playoff series lead, Miami has managed to secure victories in 4 out of 6 matchups, resulting in a 20-17 postseason record against the Celtics. This upcoming playoff series marks the fourth meeting between the Heat and the Celtics in the last five years.