- Kevin Garnett will miss his second straight game for the Celtics due to illness and an adductor strain in his left leg. It will be just the third game this season Garnett has missed for Boston. Jeff Green will start in Garnett’s place, as Doc Rivers has elected to go with a small lineup to match up against Miami.
- The Heat arrive in Beantown having won 22 consecutive games, which is tied for the second longest winning streak in NBA history. The last team to win 22 consecutive games was the 2007-08 Houston Rockets, who ironically had their streak snapped by the Boston Celtics exactly five years ago today in 2008 at the Toyota Center.
- Despite Miami’s incredible hot streak this season, the defending champions have continued to struggle lately at the TD Garden. In fact, LeBron James is winless in Boston during the regular season (0-5) since becoming a member of the Miami Heat in 2010. Over his entire career in Miami, James is just 2-8 on the road against Boston.
- Although it’s not as impressive as Miami’s winning streak, the Celtics have been on a nice run of their own at the TD Garden lately, winning 11 consecutive games at home since late January. Seven of those 11 wins have come against current playoff teams, including one over the Heat back on January 27th. Paul Pierce spoke on the difference in his team’s play on their home court lately. “When teams come into the Garden, they have to know that this is going to be their toughest game of the year. And that’s the feeling and the swagger that we’re bringing each and every day here at the Garden,” Pierce explained.
– Brian Robb
LETS GO CELTICS!!!!