Heat vs Celtics Game 3 Odds, Picks and Preview
- The Heat visit the Celtics for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night
- Boston took Game 2 on Thursday to even up the series at 1-1
- Find the Heat vs Celtics odds, spread, betting analysis, and best bet below
On Saturday, the Boston Celtics return home for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals to face Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. The tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET at the TD Garden. Keep reading for the Heat vs Celtics odds.
The C’s bounced back with authority in Game 2 on Thursday, securing a massive 127-102 victory in South Beach. They were in cruise control for most of the contest and couldn’t miss a shot from downtown. The series is now tied 1-1 heading back to Beantown.
Heat vs Celtics Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat | +6.5 (-108) | +220 | Ov 207.5 (-110) |
| Boston Celtics | -6.5 (-112) | -270 | Un 207.5 (-110) |
Odds as of May 20th at FanDuel
The Celtics are a 6.5-point favorite in Game 3 and have gone 4-2 at home in these playoffs.
Heat Betting Outlook
Miami looked extremely solid in the series opener. They did a good job of containing Jayson Tatum and the C’s supporting cast while Jimmy Buckets had a massive 41-point night. However, it was a much different story in Game 2. The Heat were absolutely outplayed in this contest, with Boston outscoring them 70-45 in the first half.
Back to the drawing board. Sights set on Game 3. pic.twitter.com/2feMfAq8jU
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 20, 2022
Butler played well again, dropping 29 points in just 32 minutes of action. He shot 11-for-18 from the field as well. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a lot of help. The next highest scorer in the starting five was Gabe Vincent, with just 14 points. Bam Adebayo struggled to get going offensively, collecting a mere six points and nine rebounds down low.
Summary of Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals…
Jimmy Butler: Heat starters:
70 points 74 points
23-of-37 FG 26-of-57 FG
23-of-26 FT 8-of-14 FT pic.twitter.com/O536h0l753— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 20, 2022
The shooting woes continued for Miami from deep, too. They drained only 33% of their triples in Game 1 and Thursday proved to be even worse, going 10-for-34 (29%).
Erik Spoelstra’s defense couldn’t stop Boston in any shape or form either, with their entire rotation thriving. After such a brutal performance, expect the Heat to respond in a big way on Saturday. The first unit could be without a key defensive cog though as PJ Tucker left Game 2 with a knee contusion.
Celtics Betting Outlook
Boston knew they had to come out on Thursday and play a lot better. Needless to say, the C’s did. After going down 10 points early in the first quarter, Ime Udoka’s squad eventually exploded and took a stranglehold on Game 2. The Celtics went on a 17-0 run in the opening period and even had a 34-point lead at one point in the fourth quarter.
YUP pic.twitter.com/cP3BoxOgjm
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 20, 2022
Their three-point shooting and timely contributions were the clear difference-maker. Boston shot an impressive 50% from beyond the arc, with the Big 3 of Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart combining for 13 triples alone. Tatum led the charge with 29 points, while Smart and Brown both compiled 24 apiece. Six different scorers finished in double-figures, with all but one starter scoring 10 or more points.
Heading home 1-1 ✈️ pic.twitter.com/3epa9a13Ki
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 20, 2022
The Celtics have now gone 4-0 in games after a loss. Udoka’s squad continues to prove they are capable of making the necessary adjustments, something that is extremely important for a championship-caliber team. Back at the Garden on Saturday, the energy should be electric.
Heat vs Celtics Prediction
What I’m looking at here is Miami’s ATS record on the road. They’re 27-18-1 and 18-8 as an ATS underdog.
Boston, on the other hand, is under .500 at 22-24-1 ATS at home. I do believe the Heat will come out and play a lot better in Game 3. It might not result in a victory, but the outcome will be closer than the 6.5-point spread.
Pick: Heat ATS +6.5 (-110)
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Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
