Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Game 3 Odds, and Picks (Apr 27)

• Boston came up short at home in Game 2 against the Heat, losing by a score of 111-101.
• Miami prevailed without Jimmy Butler, setting themselves up to take the series lead at home.
• The Celtics hold a 4-1 record against the Heat this season, aiming to get back into the win column.

The NBA postseason is in full swing! This first-round series between the Celtics and Heat got a lot more interesting following Miami’s win in Game 2. Boston is the overwhelming favorite to win the Eastern Conference, but now has to fight for a road win.

How to Watch

• TNT

Preview

The Celtics struggled offensively in their loss to the Heat on Wednesday. Most notable was Kristaps Porzingis, who shot 1-9 from the field, totaling just 6 points in 30 minutes and a team-low -32. His matchup against defensive player of the year finalist Bam Adebayo will continue to be crucial. Meanwhile, Boston also had trouble on defense. They allowed Miami to set a new franchise record with 23 three pointers made. They need to limit the amount of open looks from deep the Heat get in Game 3.

Miami picked up a crucial win in Game 2. They avoided going down 2-0, and now hold the home-court advantage. Unfortunately, without Jimmy Butler, the Heat still face an uphill battle to win and advance. They are unlikely to repeat their historic shooting night during the remainder of this series. Scoring a modest 111 points despite shooting 53.5% from beyond the arc illustrates the lack of depth in Miami’s offense. They’ll need to find a second gear to keep up with the Celtics offensively on a consistent basis.

Prediction

The Heat were at their best in their Game 2 win, while the Celtics had a subpar performance. If those trends continue, the Heat could very well pull off the upset and advance. On the other hand, Boston still has a notable advantage as the better team in a long series. It’s likely the Celtics will wear down the Heat, and take advantage of Butler’s absence. I expect Boston to bounce back and win Game 3 in Miami.

NBA Picks

• Celtics 118, Heat 110 (MIL +165)