Heat vs Celtics Odds & Prediction: Miami Underdogs On Short Rest

The East-leading Heat (32-18 SU, 29-21 ATS) have covered nine of their last 11 visits to Boston, but tired legs could catch up with Miami in Monday’s meeting with the Celtics (26-25, 24-26-1). The Heat are coming off a triple-overtime loss Saturday and are playing for the fourth time in six days.

Heat vs Celtics Odds & Analysis

Sportsbook Odds 

Not many sportsbooks were offering early opportunities for bettors to make their Heat vs Celtics predictions. The uncertain status of Jimmy Butler and other Heat players caused oddsmakers to keep this line off the board until Monday morning. Expect the Odds Shark Sportsbook line of Celtics -2 to climb quickly if Butler is announced out.

Get the best Heat vs Celtics odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.

Short-Handed Heat Could Get Cooled Off By Fatigue Following Triple-OT Loss

Stamina could be an issue for the Heat tonight coming off Saturday’s triple-overtime loss to Toronto. Not only is Miami playing its third game in four days and fourth in six, the Heat may also be without a couple of key starters.

Kyle Lowry will miss his eighth straight game due to personal reasons. Meanwhile, Butler was listed as questionable at the time of writing after spraining his ankle against the Raptors, and you’ll certainly want to know his status before making your Heat vs Celtics prediction.

The injury didn’t stop Butler from posting a triple-double (37 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists) in 52 minutes, but the veteran already missed six games earlier this year with a similar injury so Miami may decide to play it safe. The Heat are also without backup center Omer Yurtseven, who entered the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols on Sunday.

Stellar Defense, Strong Play From Tatum And Brown Keying Boston’s Surge

Boston enters tonight on a 3-1 SU and ATS run in its last four games after rolling to a 107-97 win Saturday in New Orleans. The Celtics jumped out to an early 27-8 lead over the short-handed Pelicans and limited the Pels to just 34 first-half points, their lowest halftime total of the season.

Defense like that has been the Celtics’ hallmark lately as Boston has gone UNDER the total in six of its last seven overall and six of its last eight at home. The Celts have held opponents to 97 points or less in each of their last four victories, winning those games by an average of more than 20 points.

Of course, it helps when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are clicking offensively like they were Saturday, when Boston’s dynamic duo shot a combined 28 of 46 from the floor for 69 points. The Celtics are 4-0 SU this season when both Tatum and Brown score at least 30 points. 

Heat vs Celtics Pick & Insights

Heat: Keys To Cover

A strong start from Miami is critical for the Heat to be the winning Heat vs Celtics prediction tonight. Miami will only get more tired as the game goes along and if the Heat find themselves down big in the second half, coach Erik Spoelstra may wave the white flag with a visit to Toronto on deck tomorrow.

Celtics: Keys To Cover

Boston is also playing its third game in four nights, but with nearly the entire roster available, the Celtics might decide to push the pace early to try to tire out the short-handed Heat. Tatum and Brown also need to produce a better scoring effort than they did earlier this season in Miami, when they combined for just 19 points.

Odds Shark’s Computer Heat vs Celtics Prediction: Celtics -2.5

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