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The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are facing off in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, with Game 2 up next.
The Celtics head into their matchup against the Heat as double-digit favorites. The Celtics are favored by 14.5 points. The point total for the game is 205.5.
Celtics vs. Heat Odds
Point Spread for Celtics vs. Heat
The spread for this matchup is set at 14.5 points, with bookmakers listing the Celtics as the favorite.
Boston vs. Miami Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Boston has -1350 odds to win the game, while Miami is listed at +800 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 205.5 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- When: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
- Where: TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
- TV: TNT
Celtics vs. Heat Betting Trends
The Celtics are 42-36-4 against the spread this season. Boston has been the favorite in 79 games this season and won 63 (79.7%) of those contests. Celtics games have gone over the total 43 times this season.
The Heat are 40-39-3 against the spread this season. Miami has won in 11, or 31.4%, of the 35 contests it has been named as the odds-on underdog this year. Heat games have finished with a final combined score above the over/under 35 times this year.
Celtics vs. Heat Key Players to Watch
Celtics
Jayson Tatum’s numbers on the season are 26.9 points, 4.9 assists and 8.1 boards per game. Jaylen Brown is posting 23.0 points, 3.6 assists and 5.5 boards per game. Derrick White posts 15.2 points, 4.2 boards and 5.2 assists per contest, shooting 46.1% from the floor and 39.6% from beyond the arc, with 2.7 made 3-pointers per contest. Kristaps Porzingis is putting up 20.1 points, 2.0 assists and 7.2 boards per game.
Heat
Bam Adebayo’s averages for the season are 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists, making 52.1% of his shots from the field. Jaime Jaquez Jr. contributes with 11.9 points per game, plus 3.8 boards and 2.6 assists. Duncan Robinson gets the Heat 12.9 points, 2.6 boards and 2.8 assists per contest, plus 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks. The Heat get 20.8 points per game from Tyler Herro, plus 5.3 boards and 4.5 assists.
What you need to know about the Celtics
The Celtics have been getting things done at both ends of the court this year, ranking second-best in the NBA in points per game (120.6) and fifth-best in points allowed per game (109.2). The Celtics are allowing 43.3 rebounds per game this season (14th-ranked in NBA), but they’ve provided a lift by grabbing 46.3 rebounds per game (second-best). So far this season, the Celtics rank 14th in the league in assists, delivering 26.9 per game.
Boston is posting 123.1 points per game this year at home, which is 5.1 more points than it is averaging in away games (118.0). Boston is playing well when it comes to three-point shooting, as it ranks best in the league in three-pointers (16.5 per game) and second-best in shooting percentage from beyond the arc (38.8%). Boston is ceding 12.9 treys per game this season (14th-ranked in NBA), and it is allowing a 35.2% three-point percentage (fourth-best).
The Celtics are 5-4-1 against the spread and 8-2 overall in their last 10 games. Six of Boston’s past 10 contests have hit the over. In their last 10 games, the Celtics have been putting up 115.9 points per game, an average that’s slightly lower than the 120.6 they’ve scored over the course of the 2023-24 season. Boston’s points-allowed average over its last 10 games (103.9) is 5.3 fewer points per game than the team is allowing over the entire season (109.2).
What you need to know about the Heat
Offensively the Heat are the fifth-worst team in the league (110.1 points per game). But defensively they are third-best (108.4 points allowed per game). In 2023-24, Miami is 25th in the league in rebounds (42.3 per game) and 11th in rebounds allowed (42.8). With 25.8 assists per game, the Heat are 18th in the NBA.
At home the Heat are scoring 112.1 points per game, 4.0 more than they are averaging away (108.1). Beyond the arc, the Heat are 18th in the league in 3-pointers made per game (12.5). They are 12th in 3-point percentage at 37.0%. Miami is 16th in the NBA in 3-pointers allowed (13.0 per game) and fifth-best in 3-point percentage defensively (35.3%).
The Heat have gone 6-4 in their past 10 contests, with a 5-4-1 record against the spread during that span. Miami has hit the over in eight of its last 10 games. In its previous 10 games, Miami is posting 111.3 points per game, 1.2 more than its season average (110.1). The Heat are surrendering 107.8 points per contest in their past 10 games, which is 0.6 fewer points than they are allowing for the season (108.4).
Celtics vs. Heat Prediction & Pick
Our pick to win this contest is Celtics, and we project that Heat will cover the spread (Celtics -14.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 205.5 points.
How to bet Celtics vs. Heat
You can bet on Boston vs. Miami at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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