Celtics vs Heat Game 2 Odds, Prediction, and Pick

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The Celtics look to bounce back against the Heat after dropping Game 1 in Miami. After jumping out to an early lead, the Celtics had one of their worst third quarters of the season, scoring only 14 points. As expected, Boston is listed as road underdogs in the Celtics vs Heat Game 2 odds. Al Horford and Marcus Smart were sidelined for the Game 1 matchup, which cost the Celtics on both ends of the floor. Additionally, the Celtics only had one day to rest after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games. In the updated NBA Championship odds heading into the Conference Finals, the Celtics were listed at +220 while the Heat had the second-longest odds at +425.

Celtics vs Heat Game 2 Odds

      Odds are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook Right as Game 1 ended, the Miami Heat opened at -5 on the spread. Now the Heat have settled at -3.5 point home favorites. In terms of the total, the O/U is set at 207.5, which is higher than the Game 1 total. In Monday’s matchup, the total flew over, but oddsmakers don’t seem to give that too much credit. The total is only 3-4 points higher in Game 2 than it was in Game 1. New York sports betting markets list the Celtics as +145 road underdogs. Jayson Tatum’s point total is sitting at over/under 28.5 after scoring 29 points in Game 1. Both of these lines can be found on Ceasers Sportsbook.

Miami Short Favorites in Celtics vs Heat Game 2 Odds

The Miami Heat sit at 3.5-point favorites in the Celtics vs Heat Game 2 odds. According to a tweet by the Celtics, Boston will have Marcus Smart back in the lineup for Thursday’s matchup. Smart won the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and is a crucial two-way piece for the Celtics. However, Al Horford remains in health & safety protocols and is doubtful to suit up in this one. The Celtics will miss Horford’s veteran presence on the floor in Game 2, which means players like Grant Williams and Robert Williams will have to step up. https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1527033268952043529?s=20&t=7lQ4IFvtnxTPDOmFEPxMVw The absence of Smart and Horford affected the Celtics on the defensive end of the floor. After playing a solid defensive series against the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks, the Celtics allowed 119 points on 50% shooting in Game 1. Jimmy Butler asserted his dominance in the first matchup scoring 41 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals. The most impressive portion of his stat line is that he made 17 of his 18 free throws. The Celtics will have to gameplan around defending Jimmy Butler, or else they will have similar problems in Game 2.

Celtics vs Heat Game 2 Prediction and Pick

When I dug deep into this game, two things stood out to me. First, the game’s final score was not a great indication of how the game played out. The Celtics went into halftime with an eight-point lead, only to score 14 points in the 3rd quarter and eventually lose by 11. The Miami Heat outscored the Celtics 39-14 in the 3rd quarter, which got the game out of hand. Secondly, it’s clear oddsmakers aren’t as worried about the Celtics’ Game 1 collapse as the public is. Once Horford and Smart were announced out for Game 1, the Celtics spread settled at +4 before tip. For Thursday’s matchup, the Celtics are sitting at +3.5 on the spread. It’s evident that the Celtics are getting respect from Oddsmakers. Considering all this, I am going back to the well and taking the Celtics +3.5 at (-110) in the Celtics vs Heat Game 2 odds at Caesars Sportsbook. With Marcus Smart listed as probable, I expect him to help the Celtics clean up the sloppy defense we saw in Game 1. This is a massive game for Boston as they risk going down two games before heading home for Game 3. I think the Celtics will come ready to play hard for four quarters. BetMGM, BetRivers, PointsBet, and other online sportsbooks offer NBA odds, so be sure to line shop at various options.

Pick: Boston Celtics +3.5 (-110) – 1 unit (at Caesars Sportsbook)

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