Miami Heat (63-35) vs. Boston Celtics (62-36)
May 27, 2022 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Celtics -8.5; Over/Under: 201
(Get latest betting odds)
The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics meet Friday in game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at the TD Garden. The Miami Heat need a win to save their season and force a game 7 on Sunday. The Boston Celtics look to make their first NBA Finals since the 2009-10 season.
The Miami Heat are averaging 104.3 points on 44.6 percent shooting and allowing 100.3 points on 44.8 percent shooting. Jimmy Butler is averaging 25.6 points and 7.1 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo is averaging 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds. Tyler Herro is the third double-digit scorer and Max Strus is grabbing 3.9 rebounds. The Miami Heat are shooting 31.2 percent from beyond the arc and 80.2 percent from the free throw line. The Miami Heat are allowing 33.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41.1 rebounds per game.
The Boston Celtics are averaging 107.8 points on 45.7 percent shooting and allowing 100.7 points on 43.2 percent shooting. Jayson Tatum is averaging 26.9 points and 6.3 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown is averaging 23.1 points and 3.3 assists. Marcus Smart is the third double-digit scorer and Al Horford is grabbing 9.3 rebounds. The Boston Celtics are shooting 36.5 percent from beyond the arc and 80.4 percent from the free throw line. The Boston Celtics are allowing 31.6 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42.9 rebounds per game.
The Heat are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 road games and 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games overall. The Celtics are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Friday games and 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 games overall. The under is 11-5 in Heat last 16 overall. The under is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 home games. The Heat are 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings in Boston.
This is a lot of points to give a good Heat team that is in a must win situation, and I understand why you’d consider the road dog. However, the Heat are dealing with countless injuries to key players, and it’s why their offense has fallen off a cliff. PJ, Butler, Herro and Lowry are also battling nagging injuries, and it’s played a part in this club being stopped in its tracks. The Heat held the Celtics to 93 points in game 5 and still lost by 13 points. That’s hard to do. The offense is nonexistent. While I’d love to see a game 7, the Boston Celtics could run away with things if they get off to a fast start. It’s the chalk or pass for me.
