Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics 5/19/2023 Tips, Analysis and Picks
East Finals – Game 2
Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals is set to take place on Friday night at TD Garden, featuring a showdown between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. Despite being the eighth seed, the Heat have displayed their road prowess by winning four out of their first seven playoff games away from home. Currently, they hold the fourth rank in offensive efficiency. In their recent encounter on Wednesday, Miami showcased an impressive performance, outscoring Boston by a staggering 21 points in the third quarter, ultimately securing a crucial 123-116 victory on the road.
The versatile guard/forward Jimmy Butler led the charge for the Heat, who showcased his scoring prowess by leading all players with 35 points on 12-of-25 shooting. Butler also made notable contributions with seven assists and six steals. All-Star center Bam Adebayo made his presence felt with 20 points on an efficient 9-of-13 shooting, accompanied by eight rebounds. The supporting cast of Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, and Kyle Lowry added 15 points, contributing to Miami’s well-rounded offensive effort.
- The Miami Heat is 8-2 SU in their last ten games.
- The total hung OVER in 9 of the Heat’s previous ten games on the road.
- The total went OVER in 5 of Miami’s previous six games on the road against Boston.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics 5/19/2023 Tips, Analysis and Picks
The Boston Celtics, who have split their first eight home playoff games, currently hold the second rank in offensive efficiency during the postseason. In the opening match of the series, they showed promise by establishing a lead of up to 13 points in the first half. However, they couldn’t maintain their advantage as the Miami Heat unleashed a dominant third-quarter performance, scoring an impressive 46 points. Despite their efforts, the Celtics, seeded second, succumbed to Miami’s offensive onslaught.
Boston’s strength in the paint was evident, as they outscored the Heat by a significant margin of 62-40. Their shooting accuracy was commendable, with a solid 52 percent from the field. All-Star forward Jayson Tatum led the charge for the Celtics, who put up a team-high 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting while also contributing seven rebounds. Jaylen Brown provided valuable support with 22 points on 10-of-21 shooting and nine rebounds. The Sixth Man of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon, made significant pitches off the bench, adding 19 points in 37 minutes of play.
- The Boston Celtics are 13-7 SU in their last 20 games.
- The Celtics are 11-4 SU in their previous 15 games at home.
- The total went OVER in 5 of Boston’sBoston’s last six games at home against Miami.
Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics. The NBA’sNBA’s pick is the Boston Celtics. Miami guard Tyler Herro sustained a fracture in his right hand, and his return to the court will depend on the team’s progress in reaching the NBA Finals. In the previous round, Boston experienced a setback in the series opener against Philadelphia but responded with an impressive 34-point victory on their home court. With this in mind, expect the Celtics to display a renewed focus and perform well enough to cover the point spread at home. As for the final score prediction, the expectation is a Boston Celtics triumph with a scoreline of 116-99.
NBA Starting Time: 8:30 PM ET
Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA
Date: Friday, May 19, 2023
TV: TNT
NBA ODDS: Boston Celtics -9
NBA Totals: 215.5
