Heat vs Celtics ECF Game 2 Odds, Spread and Picks
- The Heat vs Celtics Game 2 odds favor Miami by 3.5-points on Thursday, May 19 at 8:30pm ET
- Marcus Smart (foot) is probable to play after missing Game 1, but Al Horford (Health and Safety Protocols) is doubtful
- Read below for the Heat vs Celtics odds, analysis, and betting prediction
Anyone who’s ever wondered why Jimmy Butler is commonly referred to as “Playoff Jimmy” needs to look no further than his Game 1 performance versus the Celtics. Miami’s star put the Heat on his back in the series opener with a 41-point effort, leading his team to a 118-107 victory.
Butler and Miami now look to take a 2-0 series lead on Thursday before the scene shifts to Boston, and oddsmakers are bullish on their chances. With Al Horford testing out of covid protocols as of Thursday afternoon, Boston are now two-point underdogs at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Celtics vs Heat Game 2 Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +112 | +2 (-110) | O 207 (-110) |
| Miami Heat | -132 | -2 (-110) | U 207 (-110) |
Odds as of May 19th from FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Heat opened as a 3.5-point favorite, in a contest that features a total of 207.5. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30pm ET at the FTX Arena in Miami, with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.
As for the series market, Miami is now a -145 favorite to advance to the conference final. They own the second shortest price tag in the NBA Championship odds at +275, while Boston’s title odds have been lengthened to +300.
Heat vs Celtics Injury News
Boston was dealt a pair of devastating blows just hours before the start of Game 1. Starting point guard Marcus Smart was ruled out due to a foot injury he suffered in Game 7 versus the Bucks, while Al Horford was placed in the health and safety protocols.
#NEBHInjuryReport for Game 2 vs Miami:
Sam Hauser (right shoulder instability episode) – OUT
Al Horford (Health & Safety Protocols) – DOUBTFUL
Marcus Smart (right mid-foot sprain) – PROBABLE— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 18, 2022
Smart, who was questionable leading up to Game 1, is currently listed as probable for Game 2, but Horford is once again expected to be out. There’s no definitive timetable for Horford’s return, but should he return two consecutive negative PCR tests 24 hours apart, he’ll be eligible for Game 3.
Both of their absences were severely felt as their replacements struggled. Derrick White started for Smart but managed only three points and four assists in 29 minutes, and was a minus-11. Game 7 hero Grant Williams got the nod for Horford, but recorded just seven points and one rebound, and was a minus-14.
On the Miami side, Kyle Lowry missed his fourth straight game with a hamstring injury. Lowry hasn’t played since Game 4 of the Heat’s second round series, and has already been ruled out for Thursday.
Heat vs Celtics Betting Analysis
Butler’s 40+ point effort was the fifth time in his Miami tenure that he’s eclipsed the 40-point mark in a playoff game. Interestingly enough, he’s never reached 40 points in a regular season game with the Heat.
Superstar. #PlayoffJimmy pic.twitter.com/gKBcxH3NSW
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 18, 2022
Seventeen of his points came in the third quarter, where the game was ultimately won. Miami outscored Boston 39-14 in the third, and held the Celtics without a point for the first seven minutes of the frame.
The Heat have outscored the Celtics 22-2 in the 3rd quarter…
Miami -4.5 bettors pic.twitter.com/4hPL48V6nG
— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) May 18, 2022
The Heat forced eight turnovers in the quarter, and held Boston to 2-of-15 (13.3%) from the field. That marked the Celtics’ worst field percentage in a quarter in four years, and it came after they shot over 60% in the opening 24 minutes.
Tyler Herro added 18 points and eight rebounds for Miami, while Gabe Vincent chipped in 17 points filling in for Lowry.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 29 points, but scored just eight points in the final 24 minutes, and committed six turnovers in the third quarter alone.
Jimmy said no no no pic.twitter.com/63A1Z8QT67
— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) May 18, 2022
Miami, who leads all remaining playoff teams in both offensive and defensive rating, shot 49% from the field and recorded 12 blocks, while limiting the Celtics to a 46% field goal percentage.
Heat vs Celtics Pick
Boston has yet to drop back-to-back games so far in the postseason, but injuries and absences are piling up. Smart likely won’t be at 100% if he suits up on Thursday, while the downgrade from Horford to Williams is significant.
The Celtics were 5-8 without Horford this season, and 1-5 in games versus playoff teams. Don’t forget Robert Williams III isn’t playing at full strength either after missing the final four games of the Bucks series.
Since Erik Spoelstra became head coach (2008), the Miami Heat are:
14-1 in playoff series when they have homecourt advantage
15-2 in playoff series when they win game 1 pic.twitter.com/Uunq1H117J
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) May 18, 2022
On the other side, the Heat continue to find ways to win without Lowry. Miami is 7-0 this postseason without Lowry, beating the spread in six of those games. The Heat have also won 10 straight at home dating back to the regular season, covering in nine of those outings.
Pick: Miami Heat -3.5 (-110)
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $200 INSTANTLY & A NO SWEAT NBA SGP EVERY DAY!
- FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
BET $5 & GET $150 GUARANTEED!
- BETMGM SPORTSBOOK
GET UP TO $1,500 BACK IN BONUS BETS!
- CAESARS SPORTSBOOK
GET UP TO $1,000 BACK - ON CAESARS!
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
