The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics meet Wednesday in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at the TD Garden. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Miami Heat are averaging 113.3 points on 46.9 percent shooting and allowing 108.8 points on 45.5 percent shooting. Jimmy Butler is averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo is averaging 18.1 points and 9.2 rebounds. Gabe Vincent is the third double-digit scorer and Max Strus is grabbing 3.5 rebounds. The Miami Heat are shooting 36.8 percent from beyond the arc and 79.3 percent from the free throw line. The Miami Heat are allowing 33.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41.3 rebounds per game.
| Points per game | Shooting % | Points Allowed Per Game | Opponent Shooting % | |
| Heat | 113.3 | 46.9 | 108.8 | 45.5% |
| Celtics | 115.5 | 48.7 | 108.3 | 44.3% |
The Boston Celtics are averaging 115.5 points on 48.7 percent shooting and allowing 108.3 points on 44.3 percent shooting. Jayson Tatum is averaging 28.2 points and 10.6 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown is averaging 24.6 points and 3.4 assists. Marcus Smart is the third double-digit scorer and Malcolm Brogdon is grabbing 4.1 rebounds. The Boston Celtics are shooting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc and 82.1 percent from the free throw line. The Boston Celtics are allowing 35.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44 rebounds per game.The Heat are 39-17 ATS in their last 56 games playing on 3 or more days rest and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall. The Celtics are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home games and 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games overall. The over is 19-7 in Heat last 26 overall. The over is 8-3 in Celtics last 11 overall. The Heat are 13-5 ATS in the last 18 meetings in Boston.
The Boston Celtics are going to get the benefit of the doubt, especially at home, but these teams know each other well as this will be the third playoff meeting in the last 4 years. The Heat also have the rest advantage and have been doubted all playoffs yet keep winning and covering numbers. In fact, the Heat are 9-5 ATS in their last 14 games as an underdog, and 8 of those 9 covers were outright victories. Five of the Heat's 8 playoff wins have come when they were underdogs. This line is disrespectful. Give me the Heat and points.
| FanDuel | MGM | Caesars | DraftKings | |
| Heat | +8 | +7.5 | +8 | +8.5 |
| Celtics | -8 | -7.5 | -8 | -8.5 |
