It’s been a while since the Boston Celtics lost two games in a row.
Specifically, two months and nine days since two teams were able to get the best of the Cs in consecutive outings.
Quite frankly, Boston is in the best–well, in the case of Celtics fans everywhere, worst–position they’ve been in quite some time to deliver on what would be a long-overdue losing streak. The reason why?
Injuries. The Houdini is really thinking of one in particular: Robert Williams’ torn meniscus in his left knee that could require season-ending surgery.
Without the team’s defensive leader and rim-protection extraordinaire, tonight’s matchup between the Eastern Conference’s current #1 seed (Miami) and #3 seed (Boston Celtics) could set the team back further after Monday’s short-handed loss north of the border to Toronto.
Of course, that loss came without Williams, Al Horford, and the ‘Jays’, and it still took an overtime period for the Raptors to overcome the shorthanded Cs.
Do the Celtics have a chance of avoiding their first losing streak in a while? Or will Miami pick up a critical late season win for seeding on the road?
Hardwood Houdini is here to dish out some holiday odds, TV channel info, and a prediction ahead of Wednesday night’s action at 100 Legends Way:
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat odds, spread, over/under
According to WynnBet, the Celtics are 4.5-point favorites against the Heat at home. Miami is a +160 underdog on the road, with the Cs moneyline set at -195. The over/under for the game has been placed at 214.5 points.
Celtics vs. Heat TV channel
Tonight’s action will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, locally on NBC Sports Boston and Bally Sports Sun, and on NBA League Pass for those out of market seeking the local broadcasts.
Celtics vs. Heat prediction
With the Heat having no current entries on the injury report, it’s a strange sight to see the Celtics maintain favorite status without the ‘Time Lord’. Of course, the recent Jimmy Butler bench drama between he, head coach Erik Spoelstra, and long-time 305 legend Udonis Haslem has many bearish on Miami’s chances of keeping it together to close out what was a successful season.
We’ll take a together Boston team getting back in the win column, covering the spread in the process because of that lingering dysfunction.