National Basketball Association

Heat, Celtics rest starters

Published Apr. 24, 2012 9:30 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are taking no chances with some key starters as the playoffs approach.

The Heat were without LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh when they visited the Celtics on Tuesday in the second-to-last game of the regular season.

Bosh didn't dress again because of a left hamstring strain. James and Wade were still in warmups and didn't come to the bench until after the starting lineups were announced.

The Celtics were playing without Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo. Boston coach Doc Rivers says Allen was out already with bone spurs, Rondo has a sore back an Garnett's hip flexor has been bothering him.