Heat vs. Celtics Game 3 Prediction
The Heat were blown out in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Celtics and now that the venue is shifting to TD Garden, Boston is a sizable home favorite on Saturday night for Game 3. Are the Heat a good bet to cover as a 6.5-point road dog?
Game Snapshot
561 Miami Heat (+6.5) at 562 Boston Celtics (-6.5); o/u 207.5
8”30 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 21, 2022
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: ABC
Miami Heat DFS Notes
Jimmy Butler ended Thursday’s ugly loss with 29 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Butler was the lone glimmer of hope for a Heat team that was thoroughly outworked and outplayed for 48 minutes on Thursday. Jimmy Buckets led all scorers with 29 points, but he – like most of the team – looked lax and passive compared to the intensity of Game 1 in which he went off for 41/9/5/4/3. There’s no question Butler is going to get his every time he steps on the court, but it remains to be seen if his teammates can provide that same level of consistency.
Boston Celtics DFS Notes
Jayson Tatum finished with 27 points on 8-of-13 shooting and added five rebounds, five assists, four triples and a steal in Thursday’s commanding win over Miami. Oh, mercy! That’s two big games in a row for Tatum, who went off for 29 points, eight boards, six dimes, four steals and a block in Tuesday’s loss. Miami boasts a formidable defense, but the Heat haven’t had an answer for the All-Star forward who’s averaging 28.3 points, 6.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 triples and 2.5 stocks in the postseason. Expect him to be at his best when the Celtics head home for Game 3 on Saturday.
Heat vs. Celtics Game 3 NBA Playoffs Betting Prediction
The Heat are 10-3 against the spread in their last 13 games in Boston, are 6-1 against the number in their last seven games coming off a double-digit loss at home and are 4-1 at the window in their last five games coming off a loss. Miami is also 5-2 against the spread in its last seven games as a road underdog, is 14-6 against the number in its last 20 games overall and is 12-5-1 at the window in its last 18 road games.
NBA PLAYOFFS BETTING PREDICTION: MIAMI HEAT +6.5