Celtics vs Heat Picks & Odds: Boston Favored In Rematch Of Eastern Conference Final

The Boston Celtics (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) will look to pick up their second straight win to start the season when they visit the Miami Heat (0-1, 0-1) at FTX Arena on Friday. Find out if the reigning Eastern Conference champs will come out on top in our Celtics vs Heat prediction.

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Celtics vs Heat Sportsbook Odds 

The Celtics opened as the 2.5-point favorite on the road with the total set at 214 points. Boston has won four of the last six meetings against Miami while going 4-2 ATS over that span, giving the visitors the edge in our Celtics vs Heat prediction.

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Celtics Top Sixers In Home Opener

The Celtics started their season off on a winning note Tuesday, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 126-117 at home. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 35 points each, tying Philadelphia’s James Harden for the game high.

There was plenty of turmoil heading into the season for Boston with the situation surrounding coach Ime Udoka, who was suspended by the club for the entirety of the 2022-23 campaign. Despite the potential distraction in their opener, the Celtics shot 56 percent from the field to take down the Sixers. Boston now embarks on a three-game road trip over the next four days.

Defense Lets Miami Down Against Chicago

The Heat dropped their first game of 2022-23, falling 116-108 to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. After the Heat outscored the Bulls 33-28 in the first quarter, Chicago rallied back to outscore Miami 68-53 through the second and third quarters and held on to take the win.

DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 37 points while Jimmy Butler (24 points), Tyler Herro (23 points) and Max Strus (22 points) each scored 20-plus for the Heat.

It was an uncharacteristically poor defensive performance for Miami, which owned the second-best defense in the NBA last season at 104.6 points against per game, trailing only Boston (103.9) in that category. 

Celtics Player Prop: Tatum OVER 27 Points (+112)

Tatum made a statement in Boston’s season opener, dropping 35 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to lead his team to a big win over Philly. The small forward averaged 26.9 points per game last season, so he should definitely be flirting with at least 27 on Friday.

Heat Player Prop: Herro OVER 22 Points (+108)

Herro made a surprise start in the season opener, playing 33 minutes and dropping 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting – tied with Bam Adebayo for the most field-goal attempts by a Heat player. Assuming Herro plays a similar role on Friday, he should be able to hit the OVER on 22 points.

Celtics: Keys To Win

The Celtics were basically a two-man show against the Sixers as Tatum and Brown combined for 70 points – more than half of the team’s output. If that duo can keep up the scoring, Boston should come out on top. If they struggle, the Celtics may need secondary scorers like Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon to pick up the pace.

Heat: Keys To Win

The Heat need to get back to playing their game and that will start by tightening up their defense. Miami allowed just 82.9 field-goal attempts per game last season – the best mark in the NBA – but surrendered 93 against Chicago. If the Heat can limit Boston’s attempts on Friday, they should be able to stay within striking distance.

NBA Computer Pick: Heat +2.5

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