Inside The Celtics

Celtics Center Sidelined for Second Straight Game vs. Heat

Bobby Krivitsky

Mar 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) dunks the ball against the Chicago Bulls.
Mar 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) dunks the ball against the Chicago Bulls. / David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
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On Wednesday night at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics aim to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Miami Heat.

The Celtics protected the parquet with a dominant two-way display Sunday, registering a 114-94 win over the defending Eastern Conference champions.

While Joe Mazzulla may have kept his rotation to eight players regardless of who else was available, he had to manage minutes at center without an important layer of depth behind Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.

Luke Kornet missed the series opener due to a right calf strain. "One of the drills, (he) just came up a little tight. Have to re-evaluate him every couple days," his head coach conveyed of the injury pregame, adding that the seven-foot-two center is "Week-to-week."

As the Celtics manage Kornet's calf strain, they've ruled him out for Game 2 against Miami.

The Heat are without star forward Jimmy Butler, who Shams Charania reported is out for the series due to the "severe MCL sprain" he suffered in their play-in tournament tilt against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Terry Rozier remains inactive due to a neck spasm.

Game 2 will tip off at 7:00 EST at TD Garden.

Further Reading

Celtics 'Ready for a Fight' in Game 2 vs. Heat

Jaylen Brown on Confronting Caleb Martin: 'Got My Guy's Back'

The Keys to Kristaps Porzingis Containing Bam Adebayo and What to Watch for in Game 2

Celtics Bench Stars in Its Role in Game 1 Win vs. Heat: 'An Identity of Our Team'

Jayson Tatum Discusses First-Career Playoff Triple-Double: 'A Beautiful Game'

Celtics Protect the Parquet in Dominant Display in Game 1 vs. Heat

Kristaps Porzingis Makes Clear What Celtics' Mindset is Entering Playoffs

How do the Heat Adapt Without Jimmy Butler? Joe Mazzulla Weighs in

Brad Stevens Addresses Potential Extension with Derrick White

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.