| Game Time | 7:30 pm EST |
| Miami Heat Line | +10.5 |
| Boston Celtics Line | -10.5 |
| Total | 220.5 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Two of the top-5 teams currently in the East are clashing in this high caliber duel, as the Boston Celtics are hosting the Miami Heat. The Celtics are coming back home on the second leg of a back-to-back, after visiting the Cavaliers in Cleveland yesterday. Boston is on a roll lately and arguably the hottest team in the league, having lost just once in their last ten games. The Heat have also been playing much better lately, having lost only once in their last five games, and both teams are looking to continue on the winning ways.
Below is a detailed analysis for Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics game.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Prediction
Boston Celtics Injury Report: Jalen Brown, Derrick White are out
Miami Heat Injury Report: Jason Richardson and Nikola Jovic are out
Boston Celtics Recent Form and Trends
The Celtics have a 16-3 record this season and are sitting on the second place of the East. Boston is 8-11 against the spread and 10-8-1 in over/under. The Celtics have a 6-2 record but just 3-6 against the spread, with a +7.9-point differential. Boston is 9-1 in their last 10 games, but 3-8 against the spread in their last 11. Over is 6-2 in their last 8 games.
Boston is coming off a 138-129 win in Chicago, as they shot with 50% from the field and made 23 triples. All of their starters scored double digits, led by Jason Tatum with 35 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Tatum leads Boston in scoring this season, with an average of 28.7 points, adding 8.5 rebounds and a team-high 5.8 assists. Jaylen Brown adds 24.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Miami Heat Recent Form and Trends
The Heat have a 9-8 record this season and are sitting on the 5th place of the East. Miami is 7-7 against the spread and 8-6 in over/under. The Heat have a 5-4 road record, and are 5-4 against the spread, with a +2.1-point differential. The Heat are 3-1 in their last 4 games and 4-1 to the over in their last 5.
Miami is coming off a 121-111 win over Toronto, even though they shot worse than the Raptors from the field (46% to 54%). Jimmy Butler led Miami’s offense with 26 points and 6 assists.
Tyler Herro leads Miami in scoring with an average of 23.6 points, adding 5.3 rebounds and a team-high 5.1 assists. Jimmy Butler adds 19 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Celtics are second-best in the NBA with 121.2 points per game. They shoot 46.4% from the field (14th) and 37.8% from beyond the arc (8th). Defensively, they allow 110.6 points per game, which is 9th in the league.
Offensively, the Heat are averaging 111.8 points per game, which is 19th in the league. Miami shoots with 44.2% from the field (25th), and with 37.9% from beyond the arc (6th). Defensively, they allow 110.6 points per game, which ranks 8th in the NBA.
The Celtics are 7-1 in their last 8 meetings against the Heat and are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 meetings. The Heat are 3-2 against the spread in their last 5 meetings in Boston. Over is 3-1 in their last 4 meetings in Boston
Prediction
In this Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Prediction, the Celtics are coming as -7.5 home favorites. Even on a second leg of a back-to-back, is hard to fade the Celtics, especially at home. But the Celtics have not been covering, as they are 1-5 against the spread in their last 6, and I will not lay the plus points with the Heat as road dogs. Taking a look at the total, the Celtics are involved in high scoring games lately, as their offense has been red-hot and their defense above average. The Heat have been involved in some high scoring games on the road lately, and both teams are shooting the ball very well from beyond the arc, ranking on the top-8 of the league, so I’m expecting a lot of points in this game. Take the over.
Nick’s Pick: Over 224.5