Boston Celtics (67-19) vs Miami Heat (48-40)
Game Info: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 7:30 pm (TD Garden)
Betting Odds: Boston Celtics -13.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics collide in a crucial NBA playoffs Game 5 at the TD Garden on Wednesday night. Here's a Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Prediction.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are now fighting to stay alive after getting thrashed by the Celtics in a 102-88 loss in Game 4 on Monday. Bam Adebayo led the team in scoring with 25 points, 17 rebounds and five assists on 11 of 22 shooting, Tyler Herro added 19 points while Caleb Martin chipped in with 18 points, but no other player finished in double figures in scoring. As a team, the Heat shot just 40 percent from the field and nine of 33 from the 3-point line as they struggled right from the start. The Heat managed just 12 points in the second quarter to trail by as many as 28 points at one stage. Adebayo had a great game and the Heat were fine on defense, but they were only on 59 points heading into the fourth quarter, and they got next to nothing from their bench.
Boston Celtics
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics are now just one win away from moving onto the second round after dominating the Heat in a comfortable win on Monday. Derrick White drained eight 3-pointers to lead the team with 38 points on 15 of 26 shooting, Jayson Tatum added 20 points with 11 rebounds and five assists while Jaylen Brown chipped in with 17 points. As a team, the Celtics shot just 41 percent from the field and 14 of 37 from the 3-point line. The Celtis were at their best on the defensive end and were always in control after restricting the Heat to just 12 points in the second quarter. White was clearly the best player on the court, while Jrue Holiday had a quiet game of just 11 points and six assists.
Boston Celtics Player Facts
- Al Horford ranks 1st amongst qualified Centers for 3P% (41.9%) this season.
- Jrue Holiday ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for 3P% (42.9%) this season.
Miami Heat Player Facts
- Bam Adebayo ranks 4th amongst qualified Forwards for rebounds per game (10.4) this season.
- Tyler Herro ranks 12th amongst qualified players for three-pointers made Per Game (3.1) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Celtics rank 1st in the league for point differential per game this season (+11.3).
- The Celtics rank T1st in the league for blocks per game this season (6.6).
- The Heat rank 30th in the league for blocks per game this season (3.4).
- The Heat rank 29th in the league for H2 points per game this season (53.3).
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Prediction
The Heat are still shorthanded with Terry Rozier and Jimmy Butler still out, while the Celtics are now playing without Kristaps Porzingis who suffered that calf injury. The Heat really needed to have their best game in Game 4 to have any chance in this series. The Celtics played excellent defense once again, and now they are back at home with a chance to seal the deal in front of their fans. I would still give the Heat half a chance if they had Butler in the lineup, but as it stands, I fully expect the Celtics to finish the job in this spot.
Peter’s Pick Boston -13.5
AUTHOR: Peter Tran
