When the Celtics and Heat take the floor Wednesday night, the stakes won't be nearly as high as the teams' last meeting.
One hundred days after Miami ended Boston's season in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, the teams will face off for the first time this season at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Though there won't be nearly as much on the line, the Celtics come into the game with that defeat still seared into their memories, as the team's season ended one step short of the NBA Finals for the third time in four years.
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"It was sickening. We felt like we did not leave everything out there," said Semi Ojeleye, per 98.5 the Sports Hub's Brian Robb. "Right now we are focused on tonight and making sure we leave everything on the court and let the result be the result."
"This is a matchup we've been looking forward to since the bubble," echoed Celtics center Robert Williams.
Boston Celtics
While the C's backcourt is banged up entering the game, with Kemba Walker out and Marcus Smart and Jeff Teague both questionable, Boston will look to get another stellar performance from rookie Payton Pritchard, who is coming off an eye-opening 23-point performance against the Raptors on Monday night.
Meanwhile, Miami enters the game looking to build on its most lopsided victory of the season, a 28-point victory over the Thunder.
Here's how to watch live coverage of the Celtics-Heat contest:
When: Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: NBC Sports Boston
Live stream: NBC Sports Boston or the MyTeams App
Be sure to tune into NBC Sports Boston at 6:30 p.m. for "Celtics Pregame Live" presented by TD Bank. We will have complete coverage after the final buzzer with "Celtics Postgame Live" presented by Your New England Ford Dealers. You can watch both shows on the MyTeams App or by clicking here.