The Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum are a game away from the NBA Finals after a dominant second-half performance against the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Miami is banged up, as star Jimmy Butler doesn’t look like himself, but the Heat have been dominated by Boston for the majority of this series despite the Celtics only being up 3-2.
Miami has been unable to score the ball efficiently the last two games, and now it has to win back-to-back games to make the Finals.
The Miami Heat are 5-35 from downtown. No team has ever shot this poorly on this many 3-point attempts in a playoff game, per @Stathead. Good lord.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 26, 2022
I don’t see it happening. However, we should first check out the odds for Game 6 via WynnBET:
Heat vs. Celtics Odds, Spread and Total
Spread:
- Heat: +9 (-108)
- Celtics: -9 (-108)
Moneyline:
- Heat: +325
- Celtics: -425
Total:
- 200.5 (Over -108/Under -108)
Heat vs. Celtics Prediction and Pick
There’s no way Miami is winning this game.
The Heat are cooked.
Kyle Lowry (who is playing hurt) and Max Strus have been unable to hit water if they fell out of a boat the last few games for the Heat, and the team doesn’t have enough reliable scoring options if Butler is struggling.
Strus and Lowry a combined 1 for 28 past 2 games. Their 0 for 15 tonight is worst 0 for something by starting backcourt in a playoff game since NBA started recording things of this nature in 1970, per ESPN.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) May 26, 2022
Nine points may seem like a lot in a playoff game, especially a Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but backing Boston is the only way to go.
The Heat are desperate for points with Tyler Herro (groin) missing the last two games, and I don’t think even a Herro return would matter with so many players already less than 100 percent.
Boston’s going to the NBA Finals, and the Celtics are going to do it with another blowout win.
Lean: Celtics -9 (-108)
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.