Heat vs. Celtics 2023 NBA Playoffs Game 1 Odds and Game Preview – May 17th

By Jeff Stinger • May 16, 2023

The Heat punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals after sending the New York Knicks home in six games. Miami walked on a tightrope as they worked their way to the postseason, earning eighth seed through the Play-In Tournament. Their dream run consisted of a first-round underdog win over the 2021 NBA Champions Milwaukee Bucks, followed by a 4-2 win against the Knicks.

The Heat challenge another battle-tested crew that features All-Star forward Jayson Tatum and a formidable supporting cast of Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart. Regarding it, we know that both franchises will deliver quality action for basketball fans and bettors.

Nitrobetting is ready to dish out key assists and lob passes with betting tips and news coverage throughout the 2023 NBA Playoffs. We break down the upcoming playoff showdown between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics.

2023 NBA Playoffs: Heat vs. Celtics Game 1 Information

When: Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 8:30 PM ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: TNT
Radio: SiriusXM NBA Radio
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
NBA Betting Odds: Heat (+8.5) / Celtics (-8.5)

Why Bet on the Miami Heat?

Coach Spo and his team held the short end of the stick since the 2023 NBA playoffs started. Nevertheless, the squad showed grit and grind that no other team had. Combining their figures versus the Bucks and the recently-concluded Knicks series, the Heat averaged 113.3 points per game on 42.9% shooting. They shot 36.8% from deep and 79.3% from the free-throw line. Miami logged dependable rebounding figures at 41.3 total boards on top of 3.5 blocks.

In their Game 6 series triumph over the Knicks, Miami finished the night on 40.2% shooting from the field and a rather underwhelming 25.9% from deep. They dug deep and found opportunities elsewhere. The team shot 92% from the line and forced 12 opponent turnovers. Although New York pulled away by as much as 14 points, the Heat breathed down their necks and outscored their opponents in the second, third, and fourth quarters.

Jimmy Butler headlined his team once again. The former Sixers forward scored 24 points on seven of 22 from the field and a near-perfect ten of 11 from the line. Kyle Lowry had nine dimes, while Bam Adebayo collected a team-high nine rebounds. Overall, it was a collective effort from the Heat as four players scored double-digit figures that night.

Why Bet on the Boston Celtics?

Boston is en route to a second-consecutive NBA Finals appearance if they do well against the Heat. We anticipate a physical game between both parties. The Celtics have the better team stats on paper. They average 115.5 points per game on 48.7% shooting from the field. They are the better three-point shooting team of the two at 39.5% and do better from the free-throw line at 82.1%. Moreover, the upcoming hosts average 44.0 total rebounds per game, 25.2 assists, and 6.0 blocks.

The Celtics left no room for error in their final playoff showdown versus the Sixers. They fared well under pressure and left the Sixers in the dust from the second quarter onwards. Boston shot 47.1 from the field and an impressive 45.5% from deep. Philadelphia couldn’t keep up with the intensity despite the Celts shooting only 83.3% from the line.

Jayson Tatum recorded a playoff-best performance of 51 points on 17 of 28 shooting. He hit 11 of his 14 shots from the line and led his team’s rebounding with 13 boards. More than that, the star forward also had five dimes in 42 minutes of play. Meanwhile, starting guard Jaylen Brown scored 25 points while Malcolm Brogdon had 12 off the bench.

Heat vs. Celtics Betting Trends

The Heat won three of their last six playoff road games (4-2 ATS).
The Heat are 2-2 in their previous four meetings with the Celtics (2-2 ATS).
The totals have gone over in four of Miami’s last five road contests.
Boston lost three of their last five playoff home games (2-3 ATS).
The Celtics won three of their last seven games versus the Heat (3-4 ATS).
The totals have gone over in four of the Celtics’ last five games against the Heat.

Heat vs. Celtics Game 1 Expert Betting Prediction

The Heat proved themselves the better team in their second-round series against the Knicks. They secured comfortable victories in their first two games and pulled through after a short back and forth. Jimmy Butler has been impressive in the playoffs and we expect him to carry the torch for Miami in their bid to reach the NBA Finals since the bubble clash versus the Lakers.

Hosting the game are the Celtics who just closed the book on a seven-game series versus the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite trailing their opponents by a game after their fifth meeting, Boston pulled through with back-to-back wins and the series victory. They are the better team on paper here. However, this tenacious Heat squad is no joke. Miami can threaten to cover the spread or even draw first blood knowing how strong they can get playing in uncharted territory.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting News. Stay tuned for more basketball previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.