The Miami Heat are going into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics a bit shorthanded. Kyle Lowry has missed his team's past two games due to a lingering hamstring injury, and it has now been confirmed that the former NBA champ is set to miss his third straight contest.

According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN, the Heat have officially ruled Lowry out ahead of Game 1 on Tuesday:

Heat say Kyle Lowry (hamstring) has been ruled out of tomorrow's ECF Game 1 vs the Celtics. Caleb Martin (ankle), Max Strus (hamstring), P.J. Tucker (calf) and Gabe Vincent (hamstring) are all listed as questionable.

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Lowry is clearly struggling to get healthy and his absence for Game 1 will be his seventh missed game for the Heat in the playoffs. He's played in only five games throughout the first two rounds and unfortunately for Miami, he hasn't looked quite right.

Interestingly enough, the Heat have won all six games without Lowry in the mix. They will be hoping for seven straight on Tuesday when they take on the mighty Celtics in the opening game of what should be an epic series.

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