Barry Recks
The stage is set for the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, with the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics all set to kick off their series this Wednesday.
Read on for more about this Heat vs Celtics matchup in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, including the latest odds, pick, and prediction to win this showdown, as brought to you by JefeBet. Also, don’t forget to check out the other NBA game previews here to help you make the best betting decisions.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics NBA Playoffs Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals on May 17, 2023
- Where: TD Garden, Boston
- When: Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 8:30 PM ET
- NBA Betting Odds: View NBA Odds
Betting on the Miami Heat
- Regular Season Record: 44-38
The Heat don’t need to get reminded that they’re the underdogs in this series. They have been the ‘dogs in each of their last two series in this postseason, but they are still very much alive. Much of the credit for the success of Miami should go to head coach Erik Spoelstra, who’s been accomplishing so much with so little.
The Heat are still missing Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, but with Jimmy Butler showing them the way, Miami has made it back to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to Boston a year ago. Butler is averaging 31.1 points on 52.7 percent shooting from the field in the playoffs, while guys like Gabe Vincent, Mas Strus, Caleb Martin, Kyle Lowry, and Duncan Robinson have all stepped up to help Miami upend the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks in the first and second round, respectively. The Heat also seem to like playing at TD Garden, where they have won 13 of their last 18 visits there.
Betting on the Boston Celtics
- Regular Season Record: 57-25
Boston pulled off a huge comeback in the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, as the Celtics erased a 3-2 series deficit against the Philadelphia 76ers to advance to the conference finals – again. Last year, the Celtics defeated Miami in seven games in the same round and they intend to succeed again this time around. Jayson Tatum must still be smoking by the time Game 1 rolls around following an explosive performance in Game 7 versus the Sixers in which he posted 51 points.
That offensive barrage has raised his playoffs scoring average to 28.2 points per game on 45.3 percent shooting percentage. One could also make an argument that Jaylen Brown has been even better in the playoffs than Tatum. For one, Brown is making 24.6 points per game on 54.1 percent shooting. The Celtics are going to be a huge problem for Miami on both ends of the floor. Boston is second in the playoffs with a 118.1 offensive rating and second as well in net rating (111.0).
JefeBet Prediction
The Celtics put up a complete, all-around effort and demolishes Miami in a double-digit victory.
Prediction: The Celtics win, 110-99.
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