East finals get a 3-day break

Game 4 slated for Wednesday

The Boston Celtics not only are facing the possibility of going down 0-3 to the Miami Heat on Saturday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, but they then would have to endure a three-day break before Game 4.

Seeking to avoid a conflict with “Monday Night Football,” the NBA has opted to bypass what had been scheduled as a Monday Game 4 between the Heat and Celtics and instead, after Saturday’s game, will resume the bestof-seven series Wednesday.

Because of network

Saturday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN Game 4: Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN Game 5*: Friday Sept. 25, 8:30 p.m. ESPN Game 6*: Sunday, Sept. 27, 7:30 ESPN Game 7*: TBD, ESPN * — if necessary. (Note: No local television in conference semifinals. Radio: 790-The Ticket. Pregame coverage on Heat.com. Postgame coverage on Fox Sports Sun.) exclusivity for the NBA’s conference finals, playing

Game 4 on Sunday or Tuesday was not an option for the Heat-Celtics series, with the Western Conference finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets scheduled for those nights.

There had been initial thought of scheduling Game 4 of Heat-Celtics for 5 p.m. on Monday, prior to “Monday Night Football,” with ESPN scheduled to carry both games.

Instead, the Heat and Celtics will be left with a three-day break, without the ability to leave the Disney World bubble setting amid their quarantine.

As it was, Thursday’s game was moved up from the typical 8:30 p.m. Eastern Conference starting time to 7 p.m. to avoid a direct conflict with Thursday

night’s football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.

Still in flux is a date and time for a potential Game 7, with that still listed as “To Be Determined” by the NBA.

As the No. 5 seed in the East, the Heat are the “road” team against the No. 3 Celtics.

However, with all games played on the neutral courts of Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, due to the new coronavirus pandemic, such homecourt advantage is removed. The only spectators allowed are a limited amount of friends and families of the teams.

The winner of the East finals will play in the NBA Finals against the winner of the West finals.