Rajon Rondo had a brilliant 44 points to go with 10 assists, eight rebounds and three steals in Boston's 115-111 Game 2 loss at Miami.

"Absolutely amazing," said LeBron James of Rondo's night. "The performance he put on will go down in the record books. He's a unique player, an unbelievable player."

"He almost singlehandedly beat us," Miami's Shane Battier marveled. "That's one of the best games I've ever seen in person."

Ray Allen has ruled out the suggestion from Doc Rivers that he sit out Game 2 to rest his injured ankle.

Allen arrived early to Boston's morning shootaround for extra shooting.

The Celtics had five technical fouls called against them in Game 1's 93-79 loss to the Heat.

Doc Rivers, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo received technicals, while they also had two delay of games and one defensive three-second call.

"I know mine wasn't. I can tell you that much. I don't know how long I've been in the league, but that has to rank as the worst I've ever had. I would have loved to earn it."

Ed Malloy called Rivers' technical foul.

The Heat varied their defensive looks on Rajon Rondo during their 93-70 win over Boston.

Rondo was held to 16 points and seven assists as the Heat made sure to have help defenders in the paint waiting for him.

“He’s one of the most unique players I have seen in this league," said Erik Spoelstra. "We know what he is. What is part of his greatness is his utter unpredictability. You don’t know where he comes up with that great play. He has great timing, knows the moment and what his team needs most. And it can be anything.”

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade attacked the basket at will in the second half of Miami's 93-79 Game 1 victory over the Celtics.

"Nothing dirty, but they have to hit the deck too," said Rajon Rondo.

Doc Rivers believes the Heat may be more dangerous without Chris Bosh.

"Obviously, Bosh makes them better but in some ways you can say they're more dangerous because now those 15 shots that Bosh had, they're going to [Dwyane] Wade and LeBron [James], so in some ways they have the ball more,'' Rivers said before shootaround Monday. "They're more aggressive. It almost activated them to be more aggressive which puts a lot of stress on your defense.

"Clearly, Chris is a terrific player and obviously it changes them. I don't know what the difference is but just like our guys [injuries] change you. It shouldn't make you worse, it should just make you different.''

The Heat are scoring more efficiently during the playoffs, averaging 108.3 points per 100 possessions, a mark which would have placed them 5th out of 30 teams during the regular season.

Bosh has been sidelined since straining a lower abdominal muscle in Game 1 of Miami's second-round series against the Pacers.

Dwyane Wade said Miami was predestined to face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference championship.

"Inevitable. It's the matchup the game of basketball wants," Wade said. "Obviously, with the Chicago Bulls being out, this is the biggest matchup the Eastern Conference can have. So we accept the challenge and we look forward to the series."

Added Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: "Was there any doubt that it'd be us and Boston?"

LeBron James has faced Boston in 18 playoff games - more than any other active player, and more than any club the reigning MVP has squared off with in the postseason.

"I wouldn't have it no other way, personally," James said. "It's really the only team I'm accustomed to playing in the playoffs. No matter where I go, I find a way to play Boston. ... We've got a lot of history."

Avery Bradley will undergo surgery on his left shoulder on Friday.

Bradley has been a key member of Boston's defense since becoming a starter following Ray Allen's injury.

Bradley will miss the remainder of the playoffs.

A record 24 teams will compete at the 2012 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.  From July 13-22, 23 NBA teams, including 11 that participated in the NBA Playoffs, as well as a team of NBA D-League Select players will compete in Las Vegas.

The  2012  competition will mark the eighth summer that the league has been held in Las  Vegas since its inception in 2004. Each of the participating teams will play five game each for a total of 60 contests over the course of the event’s ten days.

The 2012 field for NBA Summer League (years participated) will be the following:

Atlanta Hawks (2010)*
Boston Celtics (2004-07)*
Charlotte Bobcats (2008) 
Chicago Bulls (2005, 2009-10)*
Cleveland Cavaliers (2004-10)
Dallas Mavericks (2005-10)*
Denver Nuggets (2004-10)*
D-League Select (2009-10)
Golden State Warriors (2005-10)
Houston Rockets (2006-10)
L.A. Clippers (2005-10)*
L.A. Lakers (2007-10)*
Memphis Grizzlies (2007-10)*
Miami Heat (2010)*
Milwaukee Bucks (2007-10)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-10)
New Orleans Hornets (2005-10)
New York Knicks (2005-10)*
Phoenix Suns (2004-10)
Portland Trail Blazers (2005-10)
Sacramento Kings (2005-10)
San Antonio Spurs (2007-10)*
Toronto Raptors (2008-10)
Washington Wizards (2004-10)

*Indicates 2011-12 NBA Playoff team.