It’s the top two teams in the Eastern Conference after all, who will be facing off in the conference finals, as the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics battle for the right to represent the East in the 2022 NBA Finals. Who takes care of the first game? Check out our preview below of this Celtics vs. Heat 2022 NBA Playoffs Game 1 matchup.
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Betting Preview for the Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 on May 17, 2022
Where: FTX Arena (Former American Airlines Arena), Miami, FL
When: Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Boston Celtics (+2) vs. Miami Heat (-2) – view all 2022-22 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Boston Celtics (+2)
Regular Season Record: 51-31
Jayson Tatum and the Celtics are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals after coming back from a 2-3 series deficit in the second round versus the Milwaukee Bucks. They won Game 6 of that series on the road, 108-95) and then put up a much an even better performance, especially defensively, in their 109-81 win in Game 7 on Sunday. This Boston team solved Kevin Durant in the first round and triumphed over a Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Bucks in the Eastern Conference semis. In other words, the Celtics certainly have what it takes to shut down Miami’s offense that’s not even in the top 10 in the playoffs in terms of points per game. As for their offense, the Celtics will surely be relying upon the hot hands of Jayson Tatum, who has averaged 34.3 points in the last three games. As a team, the Celtics, who are making 14.5 threes per game in the playoffs, are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 outings.
Betting on the Miami Heat (-2)
Regular Season Record: 52-30
Miami was almost mechanical in the second round, as the Heat demoralized and dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. Granted that the Sixers didn’t have Joel Embiid in the entire series, the Heat still looked good in at least a couple of games where the Cameroonian suited up for Philadelphia. That’s a testament to the immense Miami defense that is arguably even better than Boston’s stop unit. The Heat lead all team in the playoffs in scoring defense with just 97.5 points allowed per game. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are the anchors of Miami’s defense that should make life hard for Boston. Butler is a nightmarish primary defender, while Adebayo’s versatility and ability to stay in front of smaller, quicker players are going to be a big plus for the Heat, who are also holding playoff opponents down to only 44.1 percent shooting from the field and 33.2 percent from behind the arc.
The Heat, who might miss Kyle Lowry again in Game 1 due to a hamstring issue, are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
The Celtics win, 100-97.
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