In a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Miami Heat host the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, Wednesday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET. While both teams have struggled a bit out the gates this season, this game should feature some high-quality basketball. And that playoff series should mean that this game will be played with a decent amount of emotion.
Continue reading for our Celtics vs. Heat picks and predictions, as the NBA betting odds for this matchup offer a good opportunity to take advantage.
Boston Celtics at Miami Heat Betting Preview
Injuries
Celtics: Jeff Teague G (Questionable), Marcus Smart G (Questionable), Kemba Walker G (Out), Romeo Langford F (Out)
Heat: No injuries to report.
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Heat are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games against opponents with winning records. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Heat.
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Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
A couple of months ago, the Heat beat the Celtics in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Miami covered in four of those victories. These teams are not exactly the same as they were when they last met, but they’re similar enough to not throw away those results completely. And even though the Heat are off to a poor start this season, the Celtics are the ones that look a bit worse than they were during that playoff run.
Kemba Walker, one of Boston’s best scorers, is still out a few more weeks, which puts more pressure on both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to create offense. Both players have passed that test with flying colors early on but having to do so against Jimmy Butler and Andre Iguodala makes it a little tougher. The Celtics need some backcourt help in this one, and it’s not guaranteed they’ll get it, especially with all of their guards dealing with injuries right now. Payton Pritchard has given Boston some great minutes off the bench, but Avery Bradley will likely be defending him here. That would be a tough matchup for the rookie.
Overall, the Celtics’ bread and butter is their ability to score, as they are sixth in the league in offensive rating. But Miami is tied for seventh in the league in defensive rating, so something will have to give here. This spread just isn’t big enough to find the value in taking Boston, especially with this being the team’s fourth road game in a row.
PREDICTION: Heat -2.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
The last four games in last year’s playoff series between these teams all went Over the total set for this game. Considering not nearly as much will be on the line this time around, one would think that there won’t be as much intensity displayed on the defensive end here. Also, this total seems way off the mark to begin with. Each of Boston’s last two games have seen at least 240 total points scored.
PREDICTION: Over 218.0 (-110)
Team Total Prop Pick
The Heat are coming off a 118-point performance against the Thunder, and they have now scored over 111 in three of their four home games on the season. The only game where they didn’t reach tonight’s number was in a blowout loss to the Bucks, but they played without Butler in that one. Miami appears like a team that is ready to get back on track, and they should be looking to make a statement here.
PREDICTION: Miami Heat team total Over 110.5 (-102)
Celtics vs Heat Betting Card
- Heat -2.5 (-110)
- Over 218.0 (-110)
- Miami Heat team total Over 110.5 (-102)
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