The Boston Celtics (65-18, 42-36-5 ATS) host their Eastern Conference rivals, the Miami Heat (47-38, 42-41-2 ATS), for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at TD Garden in Boston on Tuesday, April 18th. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM EST. The Celtics are heavily favored for this NBA grudge match, especially since Boston covered the 14-point spread easily in Game 1.
The Celtics cruised to a 114-94 victory in Game 1 against the short-handed Heat and look to grab full control of this best-of-seven series. Miami will once again be without their best player, Jimmy Butler, and could be without starting point guard Terry Rozier as well. Boston navigated their blowout win without sustaining any significant injuries.
This spread stands as the only double-digit spread in the NBA playoffs, and only one other contest sports a lower total. Here’s a look at the game odds from Michigan betting sites:
|
Bet Type
|Celtics
|Heat
||—|—|—|
| Point Spread | -14 (-110) | +14 (-110) |
| Over/Under | 202.5 (-110) | 202.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | -1500 (-110) | +900 (-110) |
The Celtics flexed their offensive muscle to start Game 1, scoring the first 14 points of the contest and holding a 17-2 lead within the first three minutes. Although Miami showed some fight, Boston largely cruised to the 114-94 victory thanks to a franchise-tying 22 playoff three-pointers and the first career playoff triple-double from Jayson Tatum. Derrick White chipped in with 20 points and was one of six Celtics to finish in double figures.
Boston remained dominant at home, improving to 38-4 at TD Garden and 4-0 against the Heat. For Miami, Bam Adebayo led the way with 24 points. But without Butler and Rozier, Miami’s offense remained stagnant too often versus an elite Celtics defense. It didn’t help that Tyler Herro shot 4-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-9 from three, en route to just 11 points. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. provided a lift with 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Without two of their top scorers, and having their top shooter, Duncan Robinson, also limited with injury, Miami likely will continue to struggle against this Celtics’ defense. Boston sports a 42-4 outright record when holding opponents below 110 points this season.
Before placing your wagers on this exciting NBA playoff matchup, be sure to explore the best NBA betting sites available to you! Here are some of our top recommendations:
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FanDuel Sportsbook:
Under 202.5 points (-110)*
DraftKings Sportsbook:
Jaylen Brown over 20.5 points (-110)Tips for Betting on Celtics vs. Heat Game 2:
* The Celtics are heavily favored in this matchup, but the Heat have shown they can compete even without Jimmy Butler.
* Miami will need to find a way to slow down Jayson Tatum and the Celtics’ offense, which is averaging 118.2 points per game in the playoffs.
* The Heat will also need to hit their shots from three-point range, as they are just 32.4% from deep in the playoffs so far.
* The Celtics are 38-4 at home this season, so the Heat will need to play their best game to steal a win in Boston.
