Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 30/04/2024, 13:47  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 01/05/2024 at 11:30 in NBA Prediction

The Boston Celtics will be at home to welcome the Miami Heat for game five of the two teams' Eastern Conference first-round playoff matchup. They lead the series 3-1 and will seek to close things out with a win in front of their home crowd. The Celtics took home-court advantage away from the Heat in games three and four. They had shockingly lost game two at home and responded emphatically as the series switched to Miami. Joe Mazzulla’s men held the Heat to under 90 points in both games, winning games three by 20 and four by 14. Derrick White shone in game four and tallied a game-high and playoff career-high 38 points. Boston have three players averaging over 20 points in this series with the others being Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The team is averaging 45.8% from the field and 38.1 from three. Kristaps Porzingis suffered an injury in game four in the first half and did not return. He is likely to miss this game which will be a big blow if he does as he helps in spacing the floor. Boston swept Miami in the regular season and have won six of seven matchups.

The Heat are facing elimination and victory here will postpone this for, at the very least, one game. Erik Spoelstra’s men's sole win in this series thus far came in their last game in Boston. They were 111-101 winners and this is perfect motivation going into this match. Game two was the only match in which they tallied over 100 points. Led by Tyler Herro, Miami shot 53% from three and 49% from the field. Throughout the series, they have shot 37.6% from behind the arc. The Heat have been riddled by injuries this postseason. Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier haven’t played at all in the playoffs and the former’s absence has sorely been felt. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. could be the latest absentee for the Heat. Jaquez, who is averaging 12 points in this series, missed the fourth quarter in game four with an apparent hip injury.