Warriors at Celtics
The Boston Celtics became one of just three visiting teams to win in Miami with a 109-101 victory over the Heat on Tuesday and are winners of four of five despite fighting through some injury issues. The Celtics will try to keep rolling no matter who is on the floor when they open a two-game homestand by hosting the NBA-worst Golden State Warriors on Thursday.
Boston went 2-1 on its just-completed road trip and knocked off the Heat while Jayson Tatum (groin) and Enes Kanter (hip) sat out thanks to strong games from Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward, who combined for 54 points on 20-of-30 shooting in the win. "They're both good players," Celtics coach Brad Stevens told reporters of Brown and Hayward. "Obviously, (Jaylen has) had a great year, and Gordon has been in a good rhythm the last couple of games. They made timely baskets." The Warriors began their five-game east coast trip with a 115-104 loss at Philadelphia on Tuesday - their fourth consecutive setback and 14th in the last 15 games. Golden State guard D'Angelo Russell is trying to drag his team into the win column and scored at least 26 points in each of the last five contests.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: TNT, NBCS Bay Area, NBCS Boston, TSN 1/3/4
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (10-38): Russell is 15-of-25 from 3-point range over the last two games and knocked down multiple 3-pointers is each of his last six contests. Golden State continues to look for help for Russell on the offensive end with Stephen Curry (hand) and Klay Thompson (knee) out and small forward Glenn Robinson III stepped up with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting on Tuesday to reach double figures in his fifth consecutive contest. Former All-Star Draymond Green handed out 12 assists in Tuesday's setback but went 1-of-6 from 3-point range and is shooting 30 percent from the field and 20 percent from beyond the arc in 10 games this month.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (31-15): Brown missed the opener of the trip with a sprained ankle but returned with 20 points at New Orleans on Sunday and logged 41 minutes while pouring in 25 against the Heat. "I think we're getting back to Celtic basketball, how we kinda started the year," Brown told reporters after Tuesday's win. "Getting back to being a team that's aggressive. Being a team that's coming out and looking for bodies, rather than the team that's sitting back on our heels. I think that's the biggest difference." Brown and Hayward helped cover a slump from star guard Kemba Walker, who went 5-of-19 from the floor on Tuesday, including 3-of-13 from beyond the arc.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Kanter and Tatum could both return on Thursday while SG Javonte Green (knee) missed Tuesday's game and is day-to-day.
2. Warriors PF Kevon Looney (abdominal) missed the last 17 games but could return on the road trip.
3. Boston earned a 105-100 win at Golden State on Nov. 15 as Tatum and Brown combined for 46 points.