Heat vs. Celtics 2023 NBA Playoffs Game 2 Odds and Game Preview – May 19th

By Jeff Stinger • May 18, 2023

The Eastern Conference Finals made waves right away as underdogs Miami Heat took the first win of the series. The Celtics are anxious to take on Play-In Tournament winners on Friday night and tie the series before heading south for Game 3.

Game 1 stayed a close contest for the most part, but the Celtics let off the gas pedal while the Heat saw the opportunities and acted quickly. Friday’s game sets up the hosts as favorites, but know that head coach Erik Spoelstra and his crew are no pushovers on the road. This is already brewing into another action-filled series and one that guarantees quality basketball and betting.

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 2 Information

When: Friday, May 19, 2023, 8:30 PM ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: ESPN / TNT
Radio: SiriusXM NBA Radio
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
NBA Betting Odds: Heat (+6.0) / Celtics (-6.0)

Why Bet on the Miami Heat?

The visitors were unfazed and shot lights out in the second half. Miami closed their night on 51.1% from the field and an incredible 51.6% from deep. They capitalized on all trips to the line and made 15 of 19 free throws. Although the Heat struggled to hit buckets in the paint, mid-range and three-point shooting kept their heads above water.

Jimmy Butler topped the scoreboard with 35 points on 12 of 25 shooting and nine of ten from the free-throw spot. He also had seven dimes and turned over the ball just three times in 43 minutes. He had the support of big man Adebayo, who finished with 20 points, a team-best eight rebounds, and five assists. Gabe Vincent and Max Strus made crucial shots and closed the book with 15 apiece. Furthermore, Caleb Martin and Kyle Lowry provided some sting off the bench and also had 15 points each.

Miami averaged 113.3 points per game in 11 playoff appearances. They are 46.9% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc. The Heat also average 41.3 rebounds per game and an impressive 7.5 steals per game. Previously, the visitors recorded 12 steals and forced 15 Boston turnovers, which were converted to 26 important points.

Why Bet on the Boston Celtics?

Boston shot well in Game 1, but not as well as the Heat. The hosts were 51.9% from the field and 34.5% from downtown. They also made 22 of 29 free throws. Jayson Tatum led the team with 30 points on nine of 17 shooting and a perfect 11 of 11 from the line. The team’s second-best scorer, Jaylen Brown, had 22 points and led the team in rebounds with nine boards and assists. Marcus Smart, the final piece of the trip, scored 13 points off the bench and led the team with nine dimes.

It was a night of unselfish basketball for the Celts. They had six double-digit scorers on the board. Besides the trio, Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and Derrick White scored no less than 11 points. Although the hosts kept control in the first half, they failed to contain Miami’s third-quarter run.

As a team, the Celtics maintain a respectable scoring average of 115.5 points per game on 48.7% from the field. They are the better three-point shooters in the postseason at 39.5% and are more confident from the line at 82.1%. This team logs quality stats on paper. However, if they can’t up the intensity against this gritty Heat team, trouble could come from all directions on Friday night.

Heat vs. Celtics Betting Trends

Miami won three of their last five playoff road games (4-1 ATS).
The Heat are 3-2 in their last five playoff games at TD Garden (3-2 ATS).
The totals have gone over in four of Miami’s last five playoff road contests.
Boston dropped three of their last five playoff home games (2-3 ATS).
The Celtics are 3-3 in their last six meetings with the Heat (3-3 ATS).
The totals have gone under in two of the Celtics’ last five home playoff games.

Heat vs. Celtics Game 2 Expert Betting Prediction

The Boston Celtics had the benefit of the doubt before Game 1’s tip-off. But, Miami knows this team well. It’s their third playoff meeting in the last four years. The Heat might be distracted by the loud Boston crowd, but having a rest advantage and the promise to silence critics persevered. They kept winning and covering in the playoffs. Five of the Heat’s eight playoff wins came when they were underdogs. This team is not a joke, especially now that they set the tone for the next matchup.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have to bounce back right away. Jimmy Butler and the rest of the red-hot Heat squad are not to be taken lightly. Boston needs to even things out before entering uncharted territory. They remain Game 2 favorites, but expect this to be a close contest to the core.

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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.