Miami Heat v Boston Celtics Betting Tips [23 September 2020]

It's crunch time in the Eastern Conference finals and game four could have huge ramifictaions on this series. A win for the Boston Celtics would level proceedings at 2-2 and leave the series finely poised with the best of three going to the Finals but a win for Miami Heat would give them a significant advantage and they would be one win away from reaching the showpiece for the first time since 2014. 

Miami should still be confident despite falling to a resurgent Boston side in game three as they do still hold a 2-1 advantage in the series. A 117-106 loss leaves the Eastern Conference finals in the balance and Miam's task of reaching a first NBA Championship Finals since 2014 will be a bit more strenuous especially if they are on the losing end again and we find ourselves with a level playing field. The Heat won four consecutive Conference finals between 2010 and 2014 winning the Larry O'Brien trophy back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 and they have a chance in game four to take a commanding 3-1 series lead to give themselves a huge chance of going all the way again. Their scoring numbers took a significant hit in game three with Goran Dragic scoring just 11 points as he struggled to cope with Marcus Smart who was tasked with stopping the sturdy Slovenian from flexing the scoring prowess he displayed in the first two games. Dragic scored 29 and 25 points respectively in games one and two but despite his lackluster display Miami's Bam Adebayo shone again with a fearsome double consisting of 27 points and 16 rebounds and both players were two of six Heat players to score double figures. 

Bsoton have been ahead for 102 of the 149 minutes so far in this series and they will feel this victory was both a long time coming and very much deserved. Boston held a game-high 20-point lead in game three and never found themselves trailing as they managed to get over the line where they couldn't in games one and two as they surrendered a 14-point and 17-point lead respectively. The return of Gordon Hayward to the court offered renewed optimisim and he was the catalyst to the Celtic's turn in fortune. Hayward offered physicality at both ends of the court as he came on as a sub after a month out with a sprained ankle and he was key to Boston seeing out for their first victory of the series. A win for the Celtics meant they avoided falling 0-3 to the Heat and going 0-3 for just the 8th time in franchise history in the play-offs in their 125th series. Jaylen Brown led the team with 26 points while the talismanic Jayson Tatum was on hand for 25 points and Smart, who was key to limiting the Heat offense, managed to score 20 points himself at the other end. Boston will now have their eyes firmly set on leveling the series and then ultimately overturning the deficit to take their first Eastern Conference finals since 2010.

Boston looked strong with a full roster to choose from in game three and I feel they are only going to get better as the series reaches its climax. Miami's tenacity and determination always gives them a chance but I see them coming up short here and I'm tipping a Celtics with a -3 point spread as their displays so far make it a very generous handicap.