Heat vs. Celtics Game 2, 9/17/20 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Predictions

Heat vs. Celtics Game 2 Prediction

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals will take place tonight in Orlando where the Celtics will look to even their series versus the Heat at 7:00 p.m. ET. Listed as a 2.5-point favorite, will Boston prevail?

Game Snapshot

701 Miami Heat (+2.5) vs. 702 Boston Celtics (-2.5); o/u 208.5

7:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, September 17, 2020

Game 2, Eastern Conference Finals

Miami Heat DFS Spin

Jimmy Butler hit an incredible floater in the face of Jayson Tatum with 12 seconds left on the clock in overtime on Tuesday and then hit the 'And 1' free throw to give the Heat a 116-114 lead over the Celtics with 12 seconds left on the clock in a 117-114 Game 1 win over the Celtics. Butler really came to life in the fourth quarter tonight and also hit a monster 3-pointer to give the Heat a 106-105 lead with 22 seconds left in the game that ended up sending it to overtime tonight. Butler finished with 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and two 3-pointers, but outside of his 40-point explosion against the Bucks in Game 1, he's been much better in real life than in fantasy in these playoffs. He's scored 20, 17, 17, 30 and 13 points in each of his last five playoff games for the Heat, but they've won four of them and hold a 1-0 lead over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Boston Celtics DFS Spin

Jayson Tatum hit 10-of-24 shots, 4-of-12 3-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws for 30 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks in Tuesday's overtime 117-114 Game 1 loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Tatum did everything he could tonight but it wasn't enough for Boston. He had an airball from downtown that left the Celtics up by just three points with 2:15 left in the fourth quarter, got called for a tough foul against Jimmy Butler, who ended up hitting the game-winner in Tatum's face on the play in overtime, and then fell down, got up and barely missed a game-tying 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer. Tatum did many more great things than bad ones tonight, but his failures happened to come at the most crucial times of a tight game. He's already possibly the best two-way player in the league and is only going to get better from here on in. And he's only 22 years old.

Heat vs. Celtics Game 2 Betting Predictions

The Heat have now covered the spread in seven of their last 10 meetings with the Celtics and are now a near-perfect 9-1 against the number in their last 10 games. They’re 5-1 against the spread in their last six conference finals matchups, are 4-1 in their last five games as an underdog and are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games coming off a win, as well. Meanwhile, the Celtics have dropped five of their last six conference finals games and given the defensive pressure of Miami, I like the Heat to get the job done again tonight in Orlando.

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: MIAMI HEAT +2.5