After a stunning upset in Game 2 to even the Celtics first round series against the Heat, the Celtics got back to its winning ways in a Game 3 demolition of Miami.
Can Boston take a commanding 3-1 series lead as big favorites on Monday night? I’m looking at an alternative way to bet on the Celtics, who have struggled as big favorites to cover big numbers over the past two seasons, but have the offensive firepower to dictate the terms of the game.
Here’s our full betting preview for Celtics vs. Heat in Game 4.
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Celtics vs. Heat odds, spread and total
Celtics vs. Heat how to watch
- Date: Monday, April 29th
- Game Time: 7:30 PM EST
- Venue: Kaseya Center
- How to Watch (TV): TNT
Celtics vs. Heat injury reports
Celtics injury report
- N/A
Heat injury report
- Delon Wright - personal - probable
- Terry Rozier - neck - OUT
- Jimmy Butler - knee - OUT
Celtics vs. Heat key players to watch
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum: Tatum has been stuffing the stat sheet all series, the engine behind what has been a dominant team effort in Game 1 and Game 3, averaging more than 24 points per game with nearly 10 rebounds and six assists. It hasn’t been a highly efficient offensive effort from Tatum, but he has been able to keep the Celtics offense on track for most of this series, especially with timely shot making.
Miami Heat
Bam Adebayo: The big man has been playing at an incredibly high level in this series, averaging nearly 22 points per game with more than eight rebounds. It’s shown on the scoreboard here as well.
Bam Adebayo On/Off ratings 2024 playoffs:
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) April 28, 2024
On Off
115.57 OFF RTG 81.48 OFF RTG
114.83 DEF RTG 141.07 DEF RTG
The Heat have outscored the Celtics when Bam is on the court this series. pic.twitter.com/caWXPGyuH6
Celtics vs. Heat prediction and pick
Boston disposed of Miami in short order in Game 3, building a 24-point lead at halftime.
The Celtics forced 12 Heat turnovers and scored 24 points off of them while scoring 26 points in the paint and allowing only 12 in the first half to build its big lead.
The second half was extended garbage time for both teams as the game lost its intensity and the Celtics attempted to drain the clock more than hunt baskets, staying under its team total of 107.5 in the 104-84 win.
With that being said, I’m going to go over in this one as the Heat look to make adjustments to the Celtics ball pressure and get a better all around effort after a 20-point loss.
If we see a competitive matchup, to me that figures to be a high scoring affair. I don’t believe the Heat can slow down the Celtics, who can get buckets in transition and get a better three-point shooting effort in this one after hitting only 29% in the blowout win.
The Heat let teams shoot threes at a top five rate this season, and the Celtics are the most three-point-centric offense in the league, leading the regular season in three-point attempts per game.
The Celtics only scored 17 points in the fourth quarter as the team tried to dribble out the clock. A better effort from Miami will keep the Celtics offense alive and go over the team total.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.