The Miami Heat visit the Boston Celtics for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. With that said, it’s a good time to check out our NBA odds series, which includes our Heat-Celtics prediction, odds, and pick we have laid out below.
Boston bounced back from a 118-107 Game 1 loss, where they squandered a 13-point second-quarter lead, and dominated Miami in Game 2 with a resounding 127-102 beatdown of the no. 1 seeded Heat. Jayson Tatum continued his magnificent postseason with yet another outstanding performance, scoring 27 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting to go along with four three-pointers, five rebounds, and five assists. Marcus Smart came back from a one-game absence, dropping a near triple-double of 24 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists. Jaylen Brown also added 24 points of his own.
Meanwhile, Miami got pummeled in on Thursday after putting up a dominant second-half performance in Game 1. Jimmy Butler led the way for the Heat with 29 points. But he did not get much help from anyone else. Gabe Vincent was the other lone starter to score in double-figures for Miami, as he scored 14 points while stepping in for the injured Kyle Lowry. Bam Adebayo remained quiet with just six points and nine rebounds. With the series tied at 1-1, this should be a momentum-swinging game for both squads.
Here are the Heat-Celtics Game 3 NBA Playoffs odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Playoffs Odds: Heat-Celtics Odds
Miami Heat: +6.5 (-108)
Boston Celtics: -6.5 (-112)
Over: 207.5 (-110)
Under: 207.5 (-110)
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Why the Heat could cover the spread
Despite the split, this series hasn't been close at all. Boston led through most of the first half of Game 1, while Miami dominated the second half of that outing. Meanwhile, the Celtics led all throughout Game 2. Save for that 39-14 third-quarter explosion in Game 1, Miami has been outplayed by Boston in this series so far. Still, the Heat showed in that quarter alone what they are capable of on both ends of the floor.
Jimmy Butler has arguably been the best player of this series. One could even argue he has been the MVP of these playoffs so far. In Game 1, Butler put on an all-around masterclass, going for 41 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, and three steals to lead Miami to a 118-107 win. Of those 41 points, the 6-time All-Star scored 27 in the second half alone. Butler followed that performance up with a 29-point outing in a brutal Game 2 defeat. The two-way wing was the lone bright spot for the Heat last Thursday. Tyler Herro has played like his usual self, bringing some off-the-bench spark for Miami. But they'll arguably need more from him if they want to advance.
Bam Adebayo isn't playing up to his All-Star capabilities so far. In this series, he only has 16 points combined and has attempted just 10 shots through two games. Miami will need to get Adebayo involved in the offense if they want any chance to advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
The Heat are listing Kyle Lowry, who has yet to suit up this series, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and PJ Tucker as questionable for Saturday night. Per Miami's injury report, the two Heat point guards Lowry and Vincent are both nursing a left hamstring strain. Strus also has a strain on his right hamstring, while Tucker is dealing with knee irritation.
Why the Celtics could cover the spread
The Eastern Conference Finals shifts to Boston and the Celtics enter Game 3 with a ton of momentum. Boston went 28-13 at the TD Garden during the regular season and is 4-2 so far in these playoffs.
As noted earlier, the Celtics have dominated the majority of this series despite a massive collapse in the third quarter of Game 1. Boston won the first, second, and fourth quarters in the opener. They proceeded to drop 70 points on Miami in the first half of Game 2, outscoring the Heat 35-24 and 35-21 in the first and second periods, respectively. The third and fourth quarters of Game 2 both ended in a tie.
Jayson Tatum has been nothing short of spectacular in this playoffs. With the kind of rhythm he is on right now, the budding superstar should continue to pour it on alongside his partner-in-crime Jaylen Brown, who is having magnificent postseason run himself.
At the beginning of this series, it seemed like both teams would play with hobbled or undermanned rosters. But Boston has gotten healthier with Marcus Smart and Al Horford both back in the fold after missing Game 1. Both Smart and Horford were difference-makers in Game 2, providing the anchor of Boston's no. 1 rated defense. Meanwhile, as noted above, Miami is still dealing with a ton of injuries to some of their key role players. Boston should have the edge health-wise in an important Game 3.
Final Heat-Celtics prediction and pick
The Celtics should win this one and do so convincingly for the second straight game. They've been the more dominant squad in eight quarters so far and have a lot more contribution across the board, now that Horford and Smart are back.
Final Heat-Celtics Prediction & Pick: Celtics: -6.5 (-112)
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