The Eastern Conference Finals have entered do-or-die as the Miami Heat visit the Boston Celtics in game seven Monday night. The Heat were cruising in this series, but a heart-breaking game six loss may be too much to come back from. Below is my NBA pick for the Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics.
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Betting Pick
The Pick: Miami Heat +8.0
This game will be played at TD Garden at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Why Bet the Miami Heat:
✅ I think Boston will win the game, but Miami has covered the spread in 11 of their last 15 games.
✅ Against the Celtics, the Heat have covered the spread in six of their last eight games.
✅ Game seven’s tend to bring out the nerves in people and that could lend to a tough, tight, game.
Miami Heat Were .01 Away
Just one week ago the Miami Heat had a 3-0 series lead and were looking good at the half to finish up this series in four games. Fast forward one week and the Celtics have tied the series up at three and now have game seven on their home floor. Game six is going to be tough to back from for Miami, but they have the chance to forget about it Monday night.
It was a chaotic game six that started with Boston grabbing a five-point first quarter lead and holding on for a four-point advantage at the half. It was not the prettiest basketball, but the Celtics will not care. The third quarter was bad basketball, with Boston winning the quarter 22-19, but the Celtics extended their lead to seven points. Let’s fast forward to the final 2.1 seconds of the game when Jimmy Butler got fouled by Al Horford while attempting to shoot a three. Butler hit all three free throws to give Miami a 103-102 lead, however the refs put .09 back on the clock giving the Celtics three seconds to win it. Boston missed the out of bounds shot, but Derrick White grabbed the rebound and scored as time expired to give the Celtics a 104-103 win. A chaotic ending to a chaotic game. On to game seven.
Jimmy Butler had a terrible game, shooting 5-21 from the field, but he led Miami with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Caleb Martin added 21 points and 15 rebounds in the defeat.
The Boston Celtics Are on the Verge of History
Boston looked down and out in game four, but things have changed, and they are now just one win away from becoming the first NBA team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. The Celtics role players have picked it up in the latter half of this series and it has changed the path for the number two seed.
In the game six win, Jayson Tatum led the way with 31 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Jaylen Brown added 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals on the night.
