BOSTON – When it comes to getting shots up, there are few who can hold their own with the Celtics, who are taking a league-high 89.5 attempts per game.
For most of this season, the Miami Heat have been at the opposite end of the shooting spectrum.
But they come into today’s game against Boston having won three of their past four games in large part because they are putting up Celtics-like numbers in terms of shot attempts.
In the past four games, Miami is averaging 92.5 shots per game, which ranks second in the NBA during that span, slightly ahead of the Celtics who are fourth at 90.8 per game.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens believes the improved play of Goran Dragic has been a key to Miami's improved offense.
"Dragic was more finding himself at the start of the year," Stevens said. "He's played really well as of late at least in the games I have watched. His ability to push tempo, his ability to draw attention in transition and in middle pick-and-rolls and in the halfcourt, just opens things up for everybody else."
The 6-foot-3 guard has improved his scoring average in each month this season and is currently averaging 15.3 points this month.
Here are some other numbers of note heading into this pivotal Eastern Conference matchup:
·Boston has won nine straight at home while the Heat come in having beaten their past eight Eastern Conference foes.
·The Celtics allow a league-high 27.4 free throw attempts per game, while Heat opponents average just 20.1 per game, which is the third-lowest number in the league.
·Avery Bradley has made at least two 3-pointers in seven of Boston’s past eight games, shooting 47.4 percent (27-for-57) in that span.
Boston Celtics
Find the latest Boston Celtics news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.
·Jared Sullinger’s 8.6 rebounds-per-game average is the highest for a Celtic since Kevin Garnett averaged 8.9 in the 2010-2011 season.
·Jae Crowder has scored a total of 47 points in his past two games, the highest two-game total of his career.
·Jordan Mickey has seen limited action in three of the past four games after getting on to the floor in a total of three games through Boston’s first 55 games this season.
·Dwyane Wade has 765 blocks, the most in NBA history of a guard 6-foot-4 or shorter.
·Teams are 0-13 against Miami when they score 90 points or less this season.
·Miami is 12-2 in games decided by five points or less.
·Heat rookie Justise Winslow has defensive rating of 97.6, which is third among Eastern Conference players logging 25 or more minutes per game.