The Boston Celtics will face the Miami Heat in Game 3 of their opening playoff series later tonight. Joe Mazzulla’s team must bounce back after a humbling defeat at the hands of Erik Spoelsta’s team. To make matters worse, the Heat were missing Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson.

All three of Miami’s injured players will be out of the rotation on Saturday, too. However, the Heat could potentially lose a fourth member of their rotation. Delon Wright is listed as questionable for personal reasons.

Wright has 22.8 minutes of playing time over the first two postseason games against the Celtics. He’s averaging 11 points, 2 assists and 2.5 rebounds on 63.6% from the field and 75% shooting from 3-point range. Without Wright, the Heat’s on-ball creation takes a further hit, putting even more pressure on the shoulders of Tyler Herro.

Boston will be heading into the Kasyea Center with the aim of taking control of the series. Miami stole a win at the TD Garden on Wednesday. If the Celtics lose, they will be trailing a team that is operating without their best player. There can be no excuses, especially when the opponent is consistently losing additional members of the rotation.

Joe Mazzulla’s team must adjust their defensive approach and limit Miami’s ability to generate open threes, especially off DHO actions and screening actions. Their pick-up points need to be higher. Their switches need to be crisper. Fortunately for the Celtics, Herro can’t play every minute. Therefore, Wright’s potential absence will hurt how consistently the Heat can generate reliable offense off the dribble.

Mazzulla’s team has two games in Miami before the series heads back to Boston, where the Celtics will undoubtedly be looking to close it out and turn their attention to the second round. In order to do that, they need to focus on beating the team in front of them, and not take their foot off the gas because certain players are missing from the rotation.

Boston has the perfect opportunity to dispatch the Heat and leave them in the rearview. Wright’s absence makes that chance a little easier for game three. Now, the team needs to go out and execute, and remind the world of their championship credentials.