Heat vs. Celtics Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

May 11, 2021

by Joe Williams
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Miami Heat (37-31) and the Boston Celtics (35-33) play the second end of a back-to-back set at TD Garden on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game is nationally televised on TNT.

These teams just played Sunday in Boston, with the Heat coming away with a 130-124 road victory. It was a huge win for the Heat, too, as they have a lead of two full games over the Celtics for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, as they look to avoid the play-in round.

Heat vs. Celtics Betting Resources

Matchup: Eastern Conference
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: TD Garden
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Heat vs. Celtics

Line Movements

Subject to Change

Spread: Miami -1.5
Money-Line: Heat -120, Celtics +100
Total: 222.5

The Celtics are slight underdogs at home in the back-end of the home-and-home set. They desperately need a victory on their home hardwood, or they risk having to play their way into the postseason. The Celtics were unable to deliver a victory in Sunday's game, perhaps distracted by the ugly, two-tone jerseys of the Heat.

The total is set in the low 220's, and these teams smashed that with a total of 254 points on Tuesday. Lately the Celtics defense has been non-existent, a trend we're seeing across the NBA as offense reigns supreme. In fact, perhaps only the Philadelphia 76ers and a few other teams pay much mind on defense. The rest of the league is just wide open.

Trevor Ariza and the Heat seek their second win over the Celtics in three days when they meet on Tuesday night. (AP)

Heat vs. Celtics Current Form-Last Game

The Heat rolled up 130 points of offense on the Celtics at TD Garden last time out, including a team-high 26 points from Jimmy Butler. Buckets also added 11 assists, eight rebounds and a pair of steals with one three-pointer. Duncan Robinson also showed out with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 6-of-10 from behind the arc.

Robinson was one of five Miami players to hit at least three triples, and they were an impressive 16-of-35, or 46%, from behind the three-point line, while also hitting a robust 57% from the floor and 91% from the charity stripe. In fact, they misfired on just two of 22 free-throw attempts, and that's always a recipe for success.

For the Celtics, Evan Fournier dropped a game-high 30 points in a losing effort, while Jayson Tatum was good for 29 points. Fournier also chipped in with eight dimes, three boards and a swat, while Tatum filled up the stat sheet with six assists, five rebounds, a steal and two blocked shots.

The C's weren't awful from the floor, as they were 45-of-83, or 54%, from the field, and they were 14-of-38, or 37%, from behind the three-point line. The difference was at the free-throw line, where they were 20-of-25, or 80%. It's not much of a margin, in fact, it's razor thin, and it shows just how close these two rivals are.

Heat vs. Celtics Head-to-Head

May 9, 2021 - Heat 130 at Celtics 124, Miami +1, Over 222
Jan. 6, 2021 - Celtics 107 at Heat 105, Boston +2.5, Under 217.5

There isn't a whole lot to glean from the season results to date. In Sunday's game, Miami won in Boston while covering as short 'dogs with the OVER hitting, and in the previous outing Jan. 6 in Miami, we saw the Celtics scratch out a low-scoring 107-105 win as 2.5-point underdogs as the UNDER connected.

If you're to put stock in either of those two matchups, the most recent game Sunday means way more, as it's a better representation of what to expect in Tuesday's battle.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Miami Heat Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 37-31 SU, 31-35-2 ATS, 36-32 OU
Road: 17-16 SU, 17-16 ATS, 16-17 OU

The Heat won and covered as short 'dogs on Sunday, and the game appeared closer than it really was. While Miami won 130-124, and that's impressive enough, they were outscored 40-25 in the fourth quarter, and 71-51 in the second half.

Miami have been cover kings lately, going an impressive 4-1 ATS across the past five outings, including covers in each of the past two. However, they covered three in a row on just one occasion, from April 18-21, across the past month and a half.

The Heat is a rather impressive 4-1 SU/ATS across the past five road outings, including wins and covers in each of the past three trips away from home. They have also rolled up impressive offensive totals in those contests, going for 121 or more points in each of the past three, so it's no surprise the OVER connected in each of the outings.

Miami is on a serious roll for total bettors, too, as the OVER has connected in a season-high nine for the Heat.

Boston Celtics Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 35-33 SU, 31-36-1 ATS, 36-32 OU
Home: 21-14 SU, 17-17-1 ATS, 17-18 OU

The Celtics picked a bad time to play their worst basketball of the season. They're 1-3 SU/ATS across the past four outings, and 3-6 SU/2-7 ATS over the previous nine contests, tumbling to the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference. If not for the play-in game, the idea of which LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers absolutely LOVES, by the way - lol, then the C's would be in a world of hurt and in danger of missing the playoffs completely.

Lately for the Celtics it's been all about the OVER, going 7-1 across the past eight games, while they have allowed 121 or more points in four of the past five, and 111 or more points in seven of the previous eight.

Key Injuries

Miami Heat

SG Victor Oladipo: Knee - Out

Boston Celtics

SG Jaylen Brown: Wrist - Out
C Robert Williams III: Toe - Doubtful