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Celtics vs Heat Game 3 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

The 2024 NBA Playoffs continue with a jam packed 4-game slate this Saturday -- and the third matchup of the day we'll preview is Celtics vs. Heat Game 3, which is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

The Celtics are 9-point road favorites on the spread in Saturday's contest, while the total is set at over/under 202.5 total points at DraftKings.

Here's everything you need to know about Game 3 of Celtics vs. Heat -- the latest betting odds, as well as our expert picks and prediction for the NBA Playoffs on Saturday, April 27.

Celtics vs Heat Odds

BOS @ MIA Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-7.5 -110 -6 -115 -5.5 -128 -6.5 -110 -6.5 -115 -6.5 -110 -5.5 -120 -6.5 -113 -9.5 -114  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+7.5 -110 +6 -105 +5.5 +104 +6.5 -110 +6.5 -115 +6.5 -110 +5.5 -110 +6.5 -113 +9.5 -106  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
o204.5 -112 o106 -110 o106 -105 N/A o105.5 -110 o106 -110 o105.5 -115 o105.5 -110 o205.5 -110  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
u204.5 -108 u106 -110 u106 -114 N/A u105.5 -120 u106 -110 u105.5 -115 u105.5 -117 u205.5 -110  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-295 N/A -340 -350 -310 -340 N/A -400 -420  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+240 N/A +260 +260 +215 +270 N/A +285 +330  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-7.5 -110 +2.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -4.5 -117 -9.5 -114  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+7.5 -110 -2.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +4.5 -112 +9.5 -106  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
o204.5 -112 o101 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A o99.5 -113 o205.5 -110  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
u204.5 -108 u101 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A u99.5 -118 u205.5 -110  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-295 N/A -215 N/A N/A N/A N/A -245 -420  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+240 N/A +172 N/A N/A N/A N/A +185 +330  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-7.5 -110 -3.5 -110 -3.5 -108 -3.5 -115 -3.5 -110 -3.5 -115 -3.5 -110 -3.5 -107 -9.5 -114  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+7.5 -110 +3.5 -110 +3.5 -112 +3.5 -105 +3.5 -120 +3.5 -105 +3.5 -120 +3.5 -120 +9.5 -106  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
o204.5 -112 o53 -105 o52.5 -120 N/A N/A o52.5 -115 o52.5 -120 o52.5 -112 o205.5 -110  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
u204.5 -108 u53 -115 u52.5 -106 N/A N/A u52.5 -105 u52.5 -110 u52.5 -117 u205.5 -110  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-295 N/A -235 -250 -263 -245 N/A -265 -420  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+240 N/A +186 +200 +200 +200 N/A +200 +330  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-7.5 -110 -3 -120 -2.5 -108 N/A -2.5 -110 -3 -112 -2.5 -110 -3.5 -112 -9.5 -114  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+7.5 -110 +3 -110 +2.5 -112 N/A +2.5 -120 +3 -108 +2.5 -120 +3.5 -117 +9.5 -106  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
o204.5 -112 o52.5 -120 o52.5 -125 N/A N/A o52.5 -115 o53.5 -105 o52.5 -122 o205.5 -110  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
u204.5 -108 u52.5 -110 u52.5 -102 N/A N/A u52.5 -105 u53.5 -125 u52.5 -109 u205.5 -110  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-295 N/A -194 N/A N/A -218 N/A -245 -420  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+240 N/A +154 N/A N/A +180 N/A +188 +330  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-7.5 -110 -2.5 -120 -2.5 -106 N/A -2.5 -115 -2.5 -105 -2.5 -110 -2.5 -121 -9.5 -114  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+7.5 -110 +2.5 -110 +2.5 -114 N/A +2.5 -115 +2.5 -115 +2.5 -115 +2.5 -108 +9.5 -106  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
o204.5 -112 o50 -115 o49.5 -128 N/A N/A o49.5 -118 o49.5 -110 o49.5 -110 o205.5 -110  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
u204.5 -108 u50 -115 u49.5 -100 N/A N/A u49.5 -102 u49.5 -120 u49.5 -121 u205.5 -110  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-295 N/A -188 N/A N/A -175 N/A -210 -420  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+240 N/A +148 N/A N/A +145 N/A +163 +330  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-7.5 -110 -1.5 -115 -1.5 -108 N/A -1.5 -110 -1.5 -105 -1.5 -110 -2.5 -105 -9.5 -114  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+7.5 -110 +1.5 -115 +1.5 -112 N/A +1.5 -120 +1.5 -115 +1.5 -120 +2.5 -124 +9.5 -106  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
o204.5 -112 o49.5 -115 o49.5 -111 N/A N/A o49.5 even o49.5 -115 o49.5 -124 o205.5 -110  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
u204.5 -108 u49.5 -115 u49.5 -115 N/A N/A u49.5 -120 u49.5 -115 u49.5 -107 u205.5 -110  
Final
Boston Celtics 545 Celtics
-295 N/A -154 N/A -154 -148 N/A -180 -420  
Miami Heat 546 Heat
+240 N/A +126 N/A +120 +124 N/A +140 +330  

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Celtics vs Heat Picks & Prediction

Erik Spoelstra is playing chess right now, and everybody else is playing checkers…

The Boston Celtics are a very difficult puzzle to solve as an opposing team, and it takes a very high skill level (and a little bit of luck) to do so. However, the Miami Heat solved it with a 111-101 win over Boston in their most recent meeting to tie up this series at 1-1 – and I, for one, can’t wait to see how (or if) Boston adjusts in Game 3.

The Celtics are the most efficient team in the NBA from 3-point range, and they are well aware of that particular notion. The Celtics put up more 3-point attempts than anybody in the league (42.5 per game), and they make them at the 2nd-best clip (38.8%). But, a big part of how they weaponize their 3-point efficiency is by limiting the total number of possessions per game, highlighted by Boston ranking 23rd in pace (97.2).

The Celtics have the best 3-point shooters. It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out the easiest path to success is to commit to the longball early and ensure they take more 3-pointers than the opposing team on any given night – and it’s been an ironclad formula for Boston all year.

But, what if the opposing team plays even slower than the Celtics intend to play? And they also happen to commit to the longball early and jack up more 3-pointers than Boston? The only thing the Celtics can do is pray they don’t hit them, and Boston’s prayers certainly weren’t answered this past Thursday, as the Heat slowed down the pace to 91.8 and attempted 43 of their 75 field goals from beyond the arc in Game 3 – and they knocked down a franchise-record 23 3-pointers at a 54% clip en route to a double-digit road victory for Miami. 

So, how does Boston adjust on the road in Game 3? I think we may see them try to flip the script and turn this into a run-and-gun offensive battle by cranking up the heat in the pace department. The Heat have no business making this series competitive, especially in the absence of Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. Miami is simply outmanned and outgunned on offense, and I fully expect the Celtics to use that to their advantage in some way shape or form to win this series.

The Heat want to slow down the pace and make every game an ugly, low-scoring defensive battle. But Boston doesn’t need to stoop down to that level. The Celtics have enough offensive firepower to punch straight through it and eliminate the brawler mentality from the equation.

The Celtics prefer to play slow and lean on their 3-point shooting and defense, but if the opposing team doesn’t have the tools to match their skill level on offense, they can also run you out of the building. I’m not sure it will totally work, but I expect them to try for stretches in Game 3. I like the over.

Pick: Over 202.5 (-110)

Click this link for picks and predictions for all First Round NBA Playoff matchups!

Celtics vs Heat Game Time & TV Channel

Date: Saturday, April 27
Matchup: Atlantic vs Southeast
Venue: Kaseya Center
Location: Miami, FL
Time-TV: TNT, 6:00 p.m. ET

Celtics vs Heat Betting Stats

1) Boston Celtics
(1st Place, Atlantic)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +130
  • Odds to Win Conference: -190
  • Odds to Win Series: -3500
  • SU: 64-18
  • ATS: 43-38-1
  • O/U: 37-44-1
  • PPG: 120.6
  • OPPG: 109.2

Click this link for the latest betting trends and market movements leading up to the NBA Finals!

8) Miami Heat
(2nd Place, Southeast)

  • Odds To Win Finals: +14000
  • Odds to Win Conference: +4900
  • Odds to Win Series: +1200
  • SU: 46-36
  • ATS: 41-41
  • O/U: 43-39
  • PPG: 110.1
  • OPPG: 108.4

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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