The Miami Heat scored a 118-107 win in Game 1 to get the early series lead against the Boston Celtics. Game 2 is set for this Thursday, with the Celtics looking to get a win before the series goes to Beantown on Saturday. Check out our preview below of this Celtics vs. Heat 2022 NBA Playoffs showdown.
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Betting Preview for the Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 on May 19, 2022
Where: FTX Arena (Former American Airlines Arena), Miami, FL
When: Thursday, May 19, 2022, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Boston Celtics (+3.5) vs. Miami Heat (-3.5) – view all 2022-22 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Boston Celtics (+3.5)
Regular Season Record: 51-31
The good thing for the Celtics is that there’s still plenty of time to recover. Back in the second round, Boston also lost Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks before charging right back to win the series in seven games. The Celtics’ chances of drawing first blood in the Eastern Conference finals took a massive hit – or hits – with the absences of Marcus Smart and Al Horford. Smart is questionable for Game 2, while Horford is not expected to play on Thursday. In any case, as long as the Celtics have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they will not make life easy for Miami, especially with the adjustments they’ll certainly apply now that they have a longer time to prepare according to which ones are available to play. If Smart gets back in time, that will be a huge plus for Boston’s defense that needs his presence to keep Jimmy Butler grounded.
The Celtics are 7-1-1 against the spread in their last 9 games as an underdog.
Betting on the Miami Heat (-3.5)
Regular Season Record: 52-30
It was all about Jimmy Butler for the Heat in Game 1, as their star forward came up with a historic performance. By scoring 41 points and racking up 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 3 swats, he became the first player ever in the history of the NBA Playoffs to put up those numbers since the league started to track steals and rebounds in 1974. He’s also the only player in this postseason that is averaging at least 25 points while shooting 50 percent or better from the field. But Butler also got ample support, with Gabe Vincent filling in nicely for Kyle Lowry, who is questionable for Game 2 with a lower-body injury. Vincent started in Game 1 and scored 17 points on 5/10 shooting, while Tyler Herro came off the bench and fired 18 points.
The Heat are 4-0-1 against the spread in their last 5 games on a Thursday.
Writer’s Prediction
The Celtics win, 103-101.
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