The schedule is set for the Miami Heat when it comes to the NBA Eastern Conference finals. The opponent, though, remains to be determined.
With the Dallas Mavericks forcing a Sunday Game 7 of that Western Conference semifinal series with their Thursday night victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns, it means the Heat will definitively open their best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals series at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at FTX Arena.
Had the Suns closed out that series against the Mavericks on Thursday, there remained the chance of the Heat opening the East finals Sunday.
The Heat, who eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series with their 99-90 victory Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center, will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Boston Celtics in the East finals.
The Bucks lead that best-of-seven series 3-2 heading into Friday’s Game 6 at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. If a Game 7 of that series is needed it would be Sunday in Boston at TD Garden.
As the East’s No. 1 seed, the Heat will host Game 1 on Tuesday night and Game 2 on Thursday. If necessary, the Heat would also host Games 5 and 7. All games in the East finals are 8:30 p.m. Eastern.
The Heat announced Thursday night that individual game tickets for their Eastern Conference finals home games go on sale to the general public Friday at 4 p.m.
There will be a four-ticket limit per household, per game.
Fans will be able to purchase home games 1, 2, 3 and 4. Games 3 and 4 will only be played if necessary.
Per the Heat:
“Fans who have purchased tickets for any unplayed games will be automatically issued a refund by Ticketmaster, including fees (except UPS and retail pickup fees). If fans purchase tickets at a retail location, they can secure a refund by returning tickets for unplayed games at the same retail location where the tickets were originally purchased.
“American Express®Card Members get early access to tickets before the general public on Friday at 12 p.m. To purchase during that presale, fans must use an American Express Card. No password is required.
“All Heat home playoff games will be mobile-only entry. Tickerholders may access their individual playoff tickets via the Heat App, Ticketmaster.com and/or the Ticketmaster App on a smartphone in order to gain entry to FTX Arena. For more information, go to HEAT.com/app.”
Eastern Conference finals
Game 1: Tuesday, FTX Arena, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: May 19, FTX Arena, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: May 21, at Boston or Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: May 23, at Boston or Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 5*: May 25: FTX Arena, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 6*: May 27, at Boston or Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 7*: May 29: FTX Arena, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
* – If necessary.
(No local television in conference finals.)
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