- The Celtics found themselves in a dire situation, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. However, they managed to muster their strongest performance of the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the Heat 116-99 in Miami. This victory granted them an extension of their season, giving them another 48 hours to fight for their playoff lives.
- Now, the Celtics are heading back to their home turf in Boston for a pivotal Game 5. The outcome of this game will either tilt the series further in the Heat's favor or bring the Celtics one step closer to an extraordinary comeback. Here's what you need to know about the upcoming matchup.
- Throughout the NBA Playoffs, The Athletic's writers have been providing their straightforward predictions. You can find their picks, coverage, and the latest odds on their platform. Additionally, detailed NBA coverage is available, which is linked below the picks.
- If you're interested in live NBA odds, you can check out BetMGM for real-time updates. And if you're looking to secure tickets for tonight's game, you can find great deals on StubHub.
- Matchup: No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 8 Heat
- Game Time: 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT
- What are the odds for the Celtics vs. Heat?
- Series Score: Heat lead 3-1
- Series Odds: celtics -275, heat +225
- During Game 4, the Celtics faced a critical moment when they found themselves trailing 61-52 early in the third quarter. They had to decide between succumbing to defeat as they did in Game 3 or mounting a comeback to keep their playoff hopes alive.
- On this particular night, the Celtics responded emphatically by outscoring the Miami Heat 66-43 in the second half. They did so by unleashing a barrage of three-pointers and capitalizing on transition opportunities. For at least two quarters, they were able to replicate the winning formula that had propelled them to success throughout the season.
- The Heat can attribute the Celtics' victory to a regression in both teams' outside shooting, as the Celtics shot 18-for-45 from beyond the arc compared to Miami's 8-for-32. Despite this, the Heat managed to stay in the game until midway through the fourth quarter. They can also draw confidence from their previous two wins at TD Garden in this series. Furthermore, they can take solace in the fact that no NBA team has ever squandered a 3-0 series lead.
- However, the market clearly anticipates that the Celtics will extend the series by at least one more game. This is evident from the Celtics entering Game 5 as 7.5-point favorites. While this may seem surprising given the criticism the Celtics faced after Game 3, they possess the ability to heat up from beyond the arc at any moment. Additionally, the potential return to form of underperforming players in their rotation and Jayson Tatum's track record in elimination games give the Celtics the profile of a team that can make the series competitive once again.
- Interestingly, the Celtics have struggled to capitalize on home-court advantage as of late, even dating back to their run to the NBA Finals last year. In this year's playoffs, they have a record of 4-5 straight-up and against the spread in Boston. Going back to the second round of last season, they hold an 8-11 record in their past 19 home playoff games.
- Reversing this trend would require the Celtics to save their season and intensify the pressure on the Miami Heat, who are on the brink of making history as an eighth seed in the NBA Finals. However, Jimmy Butler and his teammates will undoubtedly be prepared for the challenge that lies ahead.
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