Heat without Deng vs. Celtics; Could miss Bosh too

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The Boston Celtics will face a Miami Heat team that, like the Celtics, will be a bit short-handed for tonight’s game.

Boston, playing without Marcus Smart (left knee), will face a Miami Heat squad that will be without Luol Deng (hamstring) and Amare Stoudemire (illness). They could also be without Chris Bosh, who missed the team's morning shootaround with an illness.

Bosh is averaging 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in 15 games for the Heat this season.

Deng has appeared in 13 games this season for the Heat (10-5), averaging 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 32.7 percent on 3s.

Stoudemire has seen action in just two games this season, averaging six points and two rebounds while shooting 71.4 percent from the field.

No Deng likely means more Justise Winslow, the talented rookie from Duke that the Celtics were reportedly eager to try and trade up in last June's NBA draft to select.

This season, Winslow is averaging 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He has a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 90.1 which is tops among all Miami Heat players who average at least 10 minutes per game this season.

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