The Miami Heat take on the Boston Celtics Friday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tip from TD Garden is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Heat vs. Celtics odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Series: Heat lead 1-0
The Heat stunned the Celtics with a 123-116 road victory in Game 1. SF Jimmy Butler led the way with 35 points, 7 assists, 5 boards and 6 steals. C Bam Adebayo added 20 points, 8 boards and 5 assists as well. Miami shot 51% from deep, going 16-for-31, and put on a 46-point onslaught coming out of halftime.
The Celtics weren’t terrible. They shot 51% from the floor, but they just couldn’t match the 16 Miami 3-pointers. F Jayson Tatum had 30 points and 7 boards while G Jaylen Brown had 22 points, 9 boards and 5 assists. The Celtics even got 13 points and 11 assists from G Marcus Smart. It was just Miami’s night.
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Heat at Celtics odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:34 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Heat +333 (bet $100 to win $333) | Celtics -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Heat +9.5 (-110) | Celtics -9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 214.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Heat at Celtics key injuries
Heat
- G Tyler Herro (hand) out
Celtics
- G Malcolm Brogdon (forearm) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Heat at Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 112, Heat 106
Moneyline
The Celtics should win this game. They didn’t really do anything to lose Game 1. Miami just shot the lights out, and that happens sometimes. Boston is WAY overpriced, though. Miami at +333 is tempting, and if you have a free bet, it’s definitely worth consideration.
I can’t bring myself to pick Boston to go down 0-2 at home, though.
PASS and look to the spread.
Against the spread
Miami has won 3 straight meetings against Boston. The Heat are also 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games in Boston. All the Heat have to do is keep it within 10, which they have done in 6 of the last 7 against the Celtics.
Take the HEAT +9.5 (-110).
Over/Under
These teams have hit this number in 4 of the last 5 meetings. Both teams have cashed an Over in 7 of 10 games. The Over is 10-2 in the last 12 Boston played on 1 day of rest. The Over is 5-0 in the Heat’s last 5 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of .600 or greater and 7-1 in their last 8 road games against teams over .500 at home. Lastly, the Over has cashed in the last 4 between these teams in Boston.
Take the OVER 214.5 (-115).
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