Free NBA Pick: Celtics vs. Heat NBA Odds
Looking for Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Celtics taking on the Heat on Friday, October 21st, 2022 at FTX Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Celtics-Heat matchup.
2022 NBA Playoffs Handicapping
(1-0) Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat (0-1)
Date: Friday, October 21st
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: FTX Arena, Miami, Florida
NBA Moneyline Odds: Celtics -154 | Heat +110 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Celtics -2.5
NBA Betting Total: 216.5
Friday, October 21st finds the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat renewing acquaintances. Boston holds the all-time advantage having won 78 times of the club’s 129 regular-season meetings.
The teams last met in Game 7 of the Conference Finals where one missed Jimmy Butler bucket resulted in the Celtics moving on to the Finals.
Miami had all summer to stew over that missed opportunity while the Celtics are eager to establish dominance as the East’s best having already beaten the 76ers on opening night.
Boston Celtics
After getting annihilated on the glass and coughing up copious turnovers versus the Raptors in their final preseason game there were questions about how the Celtics would fair against the length of Joel Embiid and company.
The game ended up being far more competitive in those areas as Boston clearly took note of their shortcomings and came prepared.
The game was chippy as the rivalry between these two clubs continues to simmer. At one point, Embiid and Marcus Smart got caught up under the basket and Jaylen Brown accused the big man of trying to break Smart’s arm.
The truth is somewhere in between that pronouncement. Smart likes to flop and get in opponents’ faces and he was just as guilty for grabbing Embiid’s arm who got annoyed and probably too aggressive in his frustrated response.
In the end, it was the two Celtics stars who dominated the game each scoring 35 points. Jayson Tatum collected a double-double with 12 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block while Brown added three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.
The other double-digit contributors were Malcolm Brogdon (16), Grant Williams (15), and Smart (14).
Miami Heat
It was a rough and somewhat surprising start for the Heat on opening night in Miami. Not only did they lose to a conference rival they didn’t look ready to play or bring the typical Heat aggression they are known for.
Bam Adebayo kept whiffing on bunnies right under the basket. Perhaps the Heat simply took the Bulls for granted knowing Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball were out but it wasn’t how the team wanted to start the season.
Jimmy Butler led the way for Miami with 24 points, eight rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block. Tyler Herro moved to the starting rotation scoring 23 points with six rebounds but was a team-worst minus 18.
Max Strus scored 22 off the bench – – if the starters continue to struggle defensively I wonder if he’ll swap places with Herro who is clearly struggling to provide the level of defense Erik Spoelstra demands.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Celtics are 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 road games.
- Heat are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Under is 5-1 in the Celtics’ last 6 games playing on 2 days’ rest.
- Over is 10-4 in the Heat’s last 14 vs. a team with a winning straight-up record.
- The Celtics are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Miami.
Free Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat NBA Prediction:
The Celtics made the 76ers pay in transition outscoring Philly 24 to 2 on the fast break and also won the paint scoring plus the rebounding battle. The Heat are more aligned with the Raptors’ model of playing aggressive, physical defense so it’ll be a test for Boston.
Take the points and in fact, I like the Heat to win this game because they have consecutive games versus the Raptors up next – one immediately on Saturday in a back-to-back scenario plus again on Monday so will want to ensure they have a ‘W’ prior to that two-game stint.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Heat +2.5
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