The Celtics caught a major break Thursday morning ahead of their elimination Game 5 against the Heat, with Miami point guard Gabe Vincent being ruled out with an ankle injury.
Vincent turned his ankle after taking a jump shot in the fourth quarter of Boston’s Game 4 win Tuesday night. He left the game for three minutes before returning to the floor after having the ankle retaped.
It’s likely veteran point guard Kyle Lowry will come off the bench to replace Vincent in the starting lineup .
Vincent has caused major problems for the Celtics defensively, shooting 57.9% overall and 50% from 3-point range in this series. He’s averaged 17.5 points per game, including 17 in Game 4 and 29 during the Heat’s blowout win in Game 3. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra had high praise for Vincent after Game 4.
“Gabe is as tough as they come. He just wanted to — he said, ‘Let me re-tape it,’” Spoelstra said. “We have a lot of guys in the locker room like that. … So yeah, that’s why he has so much respect in the locker room.”