Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Preview
At 7:30 ET, the Miami Heat (24-20) will host the Boston Celtics (34-10) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Celtics are favored by 7 points and have won two straight. The Heat have lost four in a row.
This game will be played at the Kaseya Center in Miami. TNT will have the TV coverage for this matchup.
Check out BetCoco for Miami Heat – Boston Celtics odds
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The Celtics and Heat did not have any head-to-head matchups last season. But over the last three times playing each other, the Celtics have a record of 2-1. However, against the spread the Heat went 3-0. The over/under record in these matchups was 1-2 on an average of 207 points per game.
- Through their last five road games, Boston has an ATS record of just 2-3. However, their overall record was 3-2 while averaging 114 points per game.
- In their last three games at home, the Heat have a straight up record of 1-2 while going 0-2-1 vs. the spread. The team averaged 93 points per game in this stretch.
- As the betting underdog, the Heat have an ATS mark of just 4-6 in their last ten games. Miami posted a straight up mark of 4-6 in these matchups.
- Through their last five games as the favorite, the Celtics have an ATS record of 3-2 and a straight up mark of 4-1.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Prediction
Today, the Celtics will look to continue their strong play on the road, where they are 14-9 this season. Overall, they have won three straight games on the road and have an average scoring margin of +5.0 points per game.
This season, the Celtics are 9-13 against the spread on the road and 19-20 vs. the spread as the favorite. As the favorite, they have a straight-up record of 32-9 and have won their last two games vs. the spread.
In their most recent game, the Celtics defeated the Mavericks by a score of 119-110. The O/U line for that game was 240.5, and they were favored by 2.5 points. This improved their ATS record to 21-21 for the season.
Boston’s O/U record for the season is 22-22, and the under has hit in their last five games. On average, their games have finished with 230.9 points per game, and today’s O/U line is set at 225.
The Celtics are currently in 1st place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 34-10. In non-conference games, they are 11-4 compared to 23-6 against other Eastern Conference teams.
In terms of pace, the Celtics are ranked 15th in the league at 98.8 possessions per game. They are also 15th in field goal percentage at 47%.
When it comes to scoring, Boston is 4th in the NBA at 120.3 points per game. However, they are averaging just 117.9 points on the road compared to 122.9 at home.
So far this season, the Celtics have outscored the NBA scoring average in 70.5% of their games. They are also 6th in true shooting percentage.
This season, the Celtics’ defense is the 5th ranked defense in the NBA at 5th PPG. So far, they have held opposing offenses below the NBA scoring average in 70.5% of their games. In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Celtics defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 52.1% while allowing 34.8% from downtown.
Miami has lost four straight games straight up and are 24-20 overall. In the Eastern Conference, they are currently in 6th place and are leading the Southeast Division. As the underdog, they have gone 6-11 this season and are 8-9 ATS as the underdog.
On the season, Miami is 19-23 against the spread and has failed to cover in their last two home games. As the underdog, they are 8-9 ATS and have an ATS record of 8-13 at home.
In their last game against Memphis, the Heat lost by a score of 105-96. They were favored by 11 points in that game and are now 18-9 as the favorite. The O/U line for that game was 214.5.
Miami’s O/U record for the season is 18-26, and their games have averaged 221.1 points per game. Today’s O/U line is set at 225, and the Heat have gone under the total in their last seven games.
So far this season, the Heat have struggled to score, ranking just 27th in the NBA at 110.5 points per game. Interestingly, they have been better on the road (107.2 PPG) than at home (114.2 PPG).
When it comes to their offensive style, Miami is one of the slower-paced teams in the league, ranking 29th in possessions per game. However, they have been efficient from beyond the arc, hitting 37% of their three-point attempts (7th).
Overall, the Heat are shooting 46% from the field (23rd) and have made an average of 19.4 free throws per game (6th). In terms of assists, they are 19th in the NBA with 25.6 per contest.
At this time, the Heat’s defense is positioned 4th in the NBA, permitting 110.5 points per game. Opponents are hitting 55.2% of their two-point field goal attempts this season, and they’re also connecting on 36.6% of their three-point attempts.
With a 7-point advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Celtics to secure a 116-110 victory.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Betting Tips
- Take the Celtics on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Heat (+7)
- Projecting a combined 226 points, we like the over
Miami Heat Injury Report
- Kevin Love – Illness – Questionable
- Dru Smith – Knee – Out
- Jaime Jaquez Jr. – Groin – Questionable
Boston Celtics Injury Report
No Injuries Reported
