The Miami Heat go back to the same place where they sent home the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. After last year’s epic seven-game slugfest, the two teams are back in a first-round rematch. Unlike the Heat’s past triumph on their opponent’s home floor, they will be without the injured Jimmy Butler.
Boston wilted right after Jayson Tatum injured his ankle in the first play of the aforementioned game on their home lair. They also looked listless in the first two games of that series which was why many counted them out when the showdown went to South Beach. The Celtics can get some payback for those losses when they host their rivals on Sunday.
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Miami knows it faces an uphill battle against the Boston Celtics who were nearly impregnable this season in front of their fans. The task has only gotten more difficult sans “Jimmy Buckets,” their leader and most seasoned playoff campaigner. But, the Heat remains unfazed and will be looking to inflict more pain on the Cs.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics: Preview, prediction and betting tips
TD Garden will host Game 1 of the first-round series between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. ABC will air the game as it happens while fans can also stream the action by subscribing to the NBA League Pass.
Moneyline: Heat (+650) vs. Celtics (-1000)
Spread: Heat (+14.0) vs. Celtics (-14.0)
Total (O/U): Heat (o209.0 -110) vs. Celtics (u209.0 -110)
Editor’s Note: The odds could change closer to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of the writing.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics: Game preview
The Miami Heat will not only be without Jimmy Butler, but they will also take the floor minus Terry Rozier. “Terry Scary” had been quite impressive for this team since coming over from Charlotte. Without them, it will fall on Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love and rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. to try and hold the fort.
The Heat love to play underdogs and they will relish that role versus the top-seeded Celtics on the road. Erik Spoelstra’s brilliance has helped the team navigate tough situations in the past so he isn’t new to the odds. Miami could pull off some surprises as it doesn’t have the pressure to win the game.
On paper, Miami doesn’t belong on the same floor as the Boston Celtics, particularly with Butler and Rozier out. But, no team knows the Heat more than the Cs so they will be wary of what their archrivals can do when their backs are against the wall.
The Celtics will be carrying lessons with them after embarrassingly wilting in front of their home fans. They better not fool around or the Heat will punish them.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics: Starting lineups, subs and rotation
SF – Caleb Martin, F – Nikola Jovic, C – Bam Adebayo, PG – Tyler Herro and G – Jaime Jaquez Jr. will likely start for the Miami Heat.
Duncan Robinson’s shooting or Delon Wright’s defensive presence could be immediately needed by the Heat. They are likely the leading contenders to take out one or two of the starters. Spoelstra will be flexible with his injury-struck rotation.
C – Kristaps Porzingis, PG – Jrue Holiday, PG – Derrick White, SG – Jaylen Brown and PF – Jayson Tatum will open the game for the Boston Celtics.
Al Horford coming in for Porzingis might continue to be Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s first bench move. The coaching chess match might also force Boston’s lead tactician to come up with a different substitution pattern against “Spo.”
Editor’s Note: These are predicted starting lineups, which could change depending on the availability of players uncertain to play.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics: Betting tips
Tyler Herro will unquestionably be Miami’s go-to guy on offense sans Butler and Rozier. For that reason, he gets a 23.5 over/under points prop on Sunday versus Boston. Herro averaged 24.5 points in two play-in games to help drag Miami to the No. 8 seed.
The Celtics’ top defensive duo of Holiday and White, however, could make it tough for him to get over his points prop. Holding Herro’s production is a big step in Boston’s game plan so the streaky shooter might not score over 24 points.
Jayson Tatum has a 26.5 over/under in Game 1 against the Heat. Tatum will be top and center of Miami’s scouting report on defense. “JT” wasn’t himself when Miami was last in town in a playoff game due to a nasty ankle injury. He might erupt on Sunday to remind the Heat what he could do when healthy.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics: Prediction
The Miami Heat are perhaps the NBA’s most resilient and gritty team that thrives as underdogs. A big part of that identity, though, will be limited to cheerleading duties on the sidelines on Sunday.
Miami will make it tough but the absence of Butler and Rozier could be too much to handle in the Boston Celtics’ lair. The Cs could run all over them, including the Heat’s +14.0 spread.
Edited by Michael Macasero
