Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Prediction, Pick and Preview, May 17 (5/17): NBA
- Lm Tipster
- May 17, 2022, 12:56:17 AM
Credit: photo by Winslow Townso-USA TODAY Sports
Odds
| Time | 8:30 p.m. EST |
| Celtics money line | +105 |
| Celtics spread | +1.5 (-110) |
| Heat money line | -125 |
| Heat spread | -1.5 (-110) |
| Over / under | 204 |
2021-2022 season stats
| Boston Celtics | Miami Heat | |
| Record | 59-34 | 61-32 |
| Road / home record | 27-19 | 35-12 |
| Streak | W2 | W2 |
| Points per game | 111.39 | 109.68 |
| Points allowed per game | 104.41 | 104.61 |
| Rebounds per game | 45.50 | 43.44 |
| Rebounds allowed per game | 43.59 | 41.20 |
| Over / under record | 45-47-1 | 50-42-1 |
Preview
The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics will play the Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the FTX Arena in Miami. The Celtics get here after beating the Bucks in 7 games while the Heat eliminated the 76ers in 6 games.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have won 4 of their last 6 games and are 27-19 on the road with a 59-34 record ranking second in the Atlantic Division. The Celtics are 41-22 in Eastern Conference games. Boston is fifth in the Eastern Conference scoring 111.39 points while shooting 45.5% from the field.
Tatum is scoring 26.9 points per game with 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown is averaging 22.1 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 48.8% over the last 10 games for Boston.
In their last 10 games, the Celtics are 7-3, averaging 107.8 points, 41.3 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.6 points.
Miami Heat
The Heat have won 5 of their last 7 games and are 25-20 on the road, they have a 60-32 record overall ranking first in the Southeast. The Heat have gone 35-17 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami leads the league in 3-point percentage, shooting 37.9% as a team from downtown this season. Victor Oladipo paces the team shooting 41.7% from 3-point range.
Duncan Robinson is shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc with 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Heat, while averaging 10.9 points. Butler is averaging 28.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.2 steals over the past 10 games for Miami.
In the playoffs the Heat are 7-3, averaging 106.3 points, 41.5 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 8.1 steals and 3 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 98.1 points per game.
BETTING TRENDS
Boston are 12-4 SU in their last 16 games.
Boston are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Miami's last 10 games against Boston.
Miami are 9-0 SU in their last 9 games at home.
Prediction
Two of the best defenses in the league will meet at the East Finals. The Celtics allowed an average of 97.7 points per game in the 1st round series against the Bucks while the Heat allowed 97 ppg against the 76ers. These teams faced 3 times in the regular season, the Celtics won 2 of 3 times and the average score was 105-92 favoring the Celtics. Expect another defensive battle where the home team should win but they play is the under.
PICK: Under 204 (-110)
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