Boston Celtics will face the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday evening. The home side wants to capitalize on the away win in their latest clash. The visitors search for a chance to bounce back and get back the home-court advantage.
Boston enjoyed an excellent display on Thursday evening which brought them the first win in this series. The hosts want to continue in the same fashion and take the lead in this tie. On the other hand, Miami will try to improve after a poor display in Game 2. The away side wants to produce a better performance and make a break in the first road game.
Boston Celtics – Will they build up on their latest display?
After losing the series opener, the Celtics provided a much better display which brought them a valuable 127-102 victory in Miami. They kicked off the game perfectly, being 11 points ahead already after the first quarter. Boston continued to increase its advantage in the second period, and they went to halftime with a 25-point lead. The Celtics didn’t allow the rivals to get back in the game and deservedly celebrated a win. Boston was excellent in shooting with a 51.2 field goal percentage, hitting half of their three-pointer attempts. If they keep these numbers high, their chances for another success will be significantly higher.
Jayson Tatum continues to lead Boston’s offense in the playoffs by scoring 28.2 points on average. He also produces six assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per match. Jaylen Brown has contributed to the Celtics’ offense with 22.5 pts per game, followed by 6.9 rebs, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. Marcus Smart scores 15.8 points per contest and tops the assists charts with 6.7. Al Horford produces 12.8 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds, while Grant Williams has also chipped in with a double-digit number of points. Regarding the selection issues, Sam Hauser and Derrick White remain unavailable, while Nik Stauskas is doubtful.
Expected Line-Up: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams III
with best odds
Miami Heat – Can they bounce back immediately?
The Heat want to forget their latest display which led them to a defeat, and let the opponents level the series. It was a poor performance where they trailed 25 points already at halftime. Miami didn’t manage to win a single quarter in that match, but the visitors will have a chance to bounce back at two straight games on the road. Miami had a 44.2 field goal percentage, but they hit only 29.4% of their shots from the three-pointer area. Although the Heat had one rebound more than their rivals, they made five turnovers more as well.
Jimmy Butler has been a crucial player for the Heat in the playoffs with 29.8 points, a team-high 7.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest. Tyler Herro produces 13.9 pts, while Bam Adebayo scores 13.6, followed by 7.5 rebs per match. Max Strus and Victor Oladipo are the other two Miami players that average a double-digit number of points in the post-season. On the other hand, the Heat still cannot count on Kyle Lowry, while Max Strus, P.J. Tucker, and Gabe Vincent are questionable.
Expected Line-Up: Victor Oladipo, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, Bam Adebayo
Expert Pick #1 – Miami Heat +6.5 @-110
The Celtics were dominant in the previous encounter, but this series will be very long and exciting. Miami shouldn’t let themselves have another poor display like the latest one, and they should keep this clash very tight. I believe they are capable of covering the number, and that’s going to be my first pick.
Expert Pick #2 – Over 207.5 @-110
Although this is the clash of the two disciplined defenses, the Over cashed in the first two games of the series. Since the margin is still low in the totals market, I think this trend will continue. That’s why I’m backing the Over as my second bet.
Expert Pick #3 – Miami Heat Over 100.5 @-120
Even with a poor shooting percentage in Game 2, the Heat managed to cross a 100.5 margin. The visitors should improve their game and produce more than 100 pts again. It’s going to be my third pick, although the odds are slightly lower than for the first two.
