Celtics at Heat
THE STORY: Fresh off a convincing win in an NBA Finals rematch, the Miami Heat face another recent playoff foe as they host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. Still stinging from last year's loss to Dallas in the finals, the Heat waited patiently on Christmas Day as the Mavericks raised their championship banner to the rafters - then beat the home team silly in a game that was ridiculously one-sided until the meaningless fourth quarter. With Miami enjoying its own home opener Tuesday, the club is no doubt hoping to do the same against a Celtics team that provided little resistance in last year's Eastern Conference semifinal. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and friends needed only five games to knock the Celtics out of the postseason, gaining a major measure of revenge after losing three of four meetings in the regular season. Boston is coming off a 106-104 loss to the New York Knicks in its season opener on Christmas Day. Forward Paul Pierce has accompanied the team on its trip south in hopes of returning from a bruised heel either Tuesday or Wednesday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE CELTICS (0-1): Pierce's absence from Sunday's opener exposed Boston's major lack of depth at the small forward position. With the nine-time All-Star on the mend and his backup, Jeff Green, out for the season with a heart issue, the Celtics were forced to start veteran retread Sasha Pavlovic against the Knicks. Pavlovic played just over 15 minutes, didn't attempt a shot and was virtually invisible - except for the four fouls he picked up.
ABOUT THE HEAT (1-0): Just about everything worked for Miami against the Mavericks. James and Wade combined for 63 points while Udonis Haslem (nine points, 14 rebounds) picked up the slack for a struggling Chris Bosh (four points, 2-of-9 shooting). Wade and James also had 12 of the team's 18 assists - a line Miami fans should come to expect as the team remains without a reliable veteran point guard that can be depended upon to get the two superstars the ball.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The home team has prevailed in eight of the last 10 regular-season meetings between the clubs.
2. James has punished Boston in his career, averaging 30.6 points in 27 career games.
3. Rajon Rondo poured in 31 points against the Knicks, his highest total since he put up 31 against the New Jersey Nets on April 8. 2009.