The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics will square off at the TD Garden on Sunday afternoon. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Heat-Celtics prediction and pick.
Miami and Boston are in the heat of a battle for positioning in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Both teams have wavered of late, but the Heat are now 7-3 in their last 10 games and are certainly on the better path to postseason success. Will Boston finally turn a corner and get back into contender conversations?
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Heat-Celtics odds.
NBA Odds: Heat-Celtics Odds
Miami Heat -1 (-107)
Boston Celtics +1 (-113)
Over 221 Points (-110)
Under 221 Points (-110)
Why The Heat Could Cover The Spread
The Miami Heat have been fairly inconsistent this season, but have come alive over the past few weeks. Miami is 14-7 over their last 21 games with nine of their victories coming against lower seeded teams. The Heat have definitely taken advantage of a lesser schedule recently, which you'd expect a great team with high aspirations to do. Currently sitting in the sixth spot in the east, the Heat are just one game back of the Knicks for the fourth seed with five games to play.
The Heat were thrilled to see Tyler Herro back in the lineup in their last game against the Timberwolves. Herro didn't disappoint in his return with 27 points in the win on Friday night. Jimmy Butler did his thing with 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals as well. The Heat received contributions from several others in the impressive all-around performance and will look to carry the momentum into this crucial affair. Once Victor Oladipo is finally able to return from his knee injury, this Heat team will be locked and loaded for the postseason.
Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
The Boston Celtics roller-coaster season has been extremely disappointing to watch. This team had such high expectations in the offseason and although they will be in the postseason, it certainly won't be in an ideal position. Boston has shown flashes of what could be in recent games, but the inconsistency on the defensive end of the floor won't result in consistent wins. The recent loss to the OKC Thunder who had just lost 14 straight games tells you all you need to know.
Boston did respond well to that brutal loss however, winning three of their next five games before dropping their most recent one to the Bulls. The blowout loss to a Chicago team that's on the outside looking in was a blow to their momentum. Boston did see some nice performances in the loss, which was headlined by Kemba Walker's 33-point outing. The only other double-digit performance in the 22-point loss came from Evan Fournier, who registered 17 points. The Celtics will need a big bounce-back performance in this game from their heart and soul, Jayson Tatum.
Final Heat-Celtics Prediction and Pick
This Eastern Conference battle in Beantown will certainly feature a playoff atmosphere. As much as I want to believe that Boston will secure a huge victory on their home floor, I just don't trust them enough to pick them against a surging Heat squad. Miami is clicking on the offensive end and we all know what they've been able to do on the defensive end all season long. Boston has been wildly inconsistent on the defensive end and can't find enough production on the offensive end to support Jayson Tatum. With Jaylen Brown likely out of action, take Miami to win this thriller.
FINAL HEAT-CELTICS PICK: Miami Heat -1 (-107)
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