Welcome dear readers to the Miami Herald's Heat Live-Blog for tonight's matchup against the visiting Boston Celtics. This is Herald writer David Quinones, and I'll be bringing you updates on the action during the course of the night, so shut off that NFL game you're watching and glue yourself to your computer screen instead of your television screen.
The Celtics come in to the game with a firm hold on first place in the Atlantic Division. Boston coach Doc Rivers has a healthy Kevin Garnett and his team playing like they did in 2007 when they won the franchise's 17th championship.
Boston is first in the league in point differential and third in points allowed. If the Heat allow the Celtics to get a run going at any time it could be lights out, because Boston is one of the toughest teams to play catch-up against
Doc Rivers, pregame: "There is no way to stop Dwyane Wade. The bottom line with great players is to just hope they miss shots and if they miss shots then you did a good job."
Lineups:
Heat: Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Jermaine O'Neal, Michael Beasley, Quentin Richardson.
Celtics: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce.
In the stands: The Heat keeps its record of subpar early-season early-game attendance. Lower bowl is about one-third full.
COMMENTS, COMMENTS, COMMENTS -- Post 'em early and often! Don't let me get bored doing this, cause I start to write weird stuff when that happens.
FIRST QUARTER -- Heat fans: Ever wonder what it would be like to have three superstars in your lineup? Take a look at the Celtics. While Miami has the best player on the court, Boston has the second through fifth best players, and basketball is still something of a team game. After a disappointing loss to Washington here at the AmericanAirlines Arena, they need to win a tough one like this.
Jermaine O'Neal with a few quick ones, to the bench. This is a trap the Heat have to avoid.
JO leaves the game, doesn't seem to be hurting. But everybody hurts. Sometimes.
And just like that, Kendrick Perkins is the greatest center in the history of the game, or at least the Heat is treating him like it, fouling him four times in the first three minutes.
Wade gets his first bucket on a spin move, Garnett comes back on the other end.
If Garnett is 6-11, I'm 4-9. (Full disclosure: I am not 4-9.)
Wade throws one down through the lane, Miami 16-15.
Ray Allen does what Ray Allens do, and hits a long jumper to give Boston the lead.
Hot shooting to start. Hot pizza courtside. I REALLY want some pizza.
Udonis is in and he still doesn't look right since going scoreless the other night. Misses a 16-footer badly.
Beasley goes all John Starks over Kendrick Perkins. Of course, Beasley is actually left handed.
This pace is frenetic (to use one of my fave words) and neither DWade nor Pierce have really gotten involved. Don't forget that Pierce is a Heat-killer.
DWade with a leaner, plus the foul. Maybe he's ready to impose himself on this game?
Anybody out there? Don't forget, this is called "social" media for a reason. Drop me aline at [email protected] or post your comments below, if you dare...
Pierce fouled on a dunk attempt and talks a little smack to Beas. Haha, okay...
So we can now officially begin our running count of how many times tonight I will get kicked off the internet. Just spent five minutes getting back on. Mind you, I am not on wireless. The AmericanAirlines and Heat have me on an actual ethernet cable and I still constantly lose my connection.
Wade with a step back jumper puts the Heat up 2 points after the first quarter. Stay tuned!
SECOND QUARTER -- "In West Philadelphia, born and raised, getting t-ed up is how Rasheed spends most of his days..."
The thing about Udonis is that he doesn't need to be a big scorer to have an impact on the game. It sure would help, but at least he's rebounding. But it would help,,, Udonis with a steal, Heat up four.
A very mature move by Daequan Cook, baiting his man into the air and making the short baseline jumper while taking the foul. Free throw is missed.
Sheed scores, Marquis Daniels for three, Celtics lead by one.
Time out. Keep your browsers tuned in to MIamiHerald.com/Sports, later tonight we'll have a game story by the legendary Barry Jackson as well as postgame video by yours, truly.
Sheed is doing a little bit of everything, scoring on a power move. JO answers on the other end with a lay in of his own.
Udonis still looks lost on offense. Blocked by Shelden Williams, who left Duke five years ago and has not been seen since. (Just kidding, he's married to Candace Parker, I think.)
"Rio" (ugh) scores, Heat lead.
Heat get a break when the refs call a foul on Mario instead of JO (woulda been the big man's third).
Setting the over/under at five for times I get disconnected from the web. We are at two right now.
Chalmers fouls Rondo. Point guard is the biggest disparity in talent levels between these two teams. Rondo is twice the player with half the jump shot of Chalmers.
Rondo with a nifty reverse, misses, KG cleans it up to get into double digits. Wade answers, gets himself to double-digits.
As much talent as the "Big 3" on Boston have, Rondo is the only one who can just score whenever he wants. He blows by Mario to cap a 9-2 run.
The run continues as Rondo finds Pierce on the break. Celtics up 51-45.
Wade is putting himself in some tough spots and getting forced into bad shots and turnovers. On the other end, Boston is getting whatever it wants. Pierce finds Perkins for the layup.
Heat fall apart to end the half, allow a KG putback and turnover the ball. Go into halftime down 55-48.
THIRD QUARTER RECAP -- While Miami Heat techies worked on my computer, the Heat made a run by isolating DWade and playing tough defense. They finished the quarter down 2.
FOURTH QUARTER -- Holy cow Brian Scalabrine is in the game. Get your sunblock ready.
Beasley gets his third dunk, then gets a foul. In the third he brought the crowd to its feet with a dunk, then proceded to miss two long jumpers and go to the bench.
Arroyo and Cook in the backcourt while Dwyane sits, not a lot of offense on the court.
Beas finally tunes in from long range, nailing a three over Sheed on the baseline. Beas continues to dominate the ball for the Heat, scoring while getting fouled, getting his own miss and getting fouled again. Wow.
With Wade on the bench the Heat (Beasley) have opened a six point lead. Boston does not know what to do with Beas when he sets up on the elbows.
Scalabrine hits a three and Rondo gets a couple of twisting layups and the game is tied.
Chalmers with a drive and Pierce answers with a pair of free throws.
Ray Allen's three opens up a six point lead for the Celtics. Things are quickly falling apart for Miami.
A KG jumper, Miami misses and the game is over. An 82-78 lead evaporates and the Heat fall 92-85.
I'm off to the postgame, don't forget to check back for the Herald's coverage of a tough game, the Heat falling to the Celtics going away.
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