Heat vs. Celtics NBA Odds and Preview – January 31st, 2022

By Carlos Chacon • January 31, 2022

The Miami Heat are now on top of the Eastern Conference table after overtaking a struggling Bulls squad. They will try to bounce back from a recent loss to the Raptors as they step in front of a raging TD Garden crowd on Monday night. Meanwhile, the hosts secured a ten-point victory against the Pelicans to avoid a two-game losing streak.

Find a complete preview of the Heat vs. Celtics game brought to you by NitroBetting. Check out the event details, team and player statistics, and the latest NBA betting odds. More than that, we share timely betting trends and predictions that help you lock in on the best picks.

Heat vs. Celtics Game Information

Split the trip down south, now we'll look to protect the parquet vs Miami tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/pQ28L7BZFr
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 30, 2022

When: Friday, January 28, 2022, 8:00 PM ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: NBA TV
Radio: 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio (Heat) / 98.5 The Sports Hub FM (Celtics)
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
NBA Betting Odds: Heat (+3) / Celtics (-3)

Why Bet on the Miami Heat?

The Heat are in great shape overall but are hoping to bounce back after a narrow loss to the Raptors on Saturday. On the offensive side, Miami averages 109.1 points (14th) per game on 46.0% shooting (14th). The Heat have the offensive numbers slightly ahead of the Celtics and could give them the upper hand on this end of the court. The Heat are the long-range shooters in the league now with a 37.7% three-point percentage. This is supported by a solid 81.1% free-throw shooting (third). Furthermore, the visitors have the better ball movement in this contest as they record 25.8 assists (sixth) per game.

Defense is where the Heat puts the pedal to the metal. They limit teams to 104.5 points (fourth) per game on 44.3% shooting (eighth). The team also puts up an imposing defense in the paint. The Heat limits opponents to 39.6 points in the paint (first) per game.

Kyle Lowry is out of the lineup due to personal reasons and has missed games since January 15. The team’s highest scorer Jimmy Butler is day-to-day after sustaining a sore right ankle. Gabe Vincent is expected to log more minutes while Max Strus prepares covers for Butler if the starting forward does not get the green light to play.

Why Bet on the Boston Celtics?

The Celtics start to find more momentum. Their win against the Pelicans should be enough to lift their spirits as they head back to TD Garden for Monday’s game. First-year head coach Ime Udoka will try to play the defensive card in this one. They have a significant advantage on this side with top-rank defenders on their roster.

Defensively, the Celtics limit teams to 104.8 points (sixth) per game on 43.7% shooting (second). They have an impressive two-point shooting defense, limiting teams’ short and mid-range shots to 50.1% (second). They also have slightly better perimeter defense. The Celts kept their opponent’s three-point shooting to 34.2% (tenth). Overall, the Celtics average a 50.6% opponent effective field-goal percentage. It is also the third-best record in the league at the moment.

Boston averages 107.7 points (19th) per game on 44.7% shooting (23rd). They are not the best shooters in the league but capitalize on their foul shots. The Celtics hit 82.0% of their shots from the line (second).

The hosts enter the contest with a healthy core lineup. We look forward to the trio of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart working their way to a victory.

Heat vs. Celtics Betting Trends

The Heat are 3-2 in their last five regular-season road games (4-1 ATS).
The Heat are 4-1 in their last five road games against the Celtics (4-1 ATS).
The totals went over in 5 of Miami’s last 5 games.
The Celtics are 7-3 in their last five games at the TD Garden (4-6 ATS).
The Celtics are 2-3 in their last five games against Miami (2-3 ATS).
The totals went under in two of Boston’s last four games against Miami.

Heat vs. Celtics Expert Betting Prediction

The Celtics picked up some pace in their last 12 games and won eight games in the process. Their win against the Pelicans should give the team some confidence as they host the Heat. They enter the contest as favorites. Meanwhile, the Heat are expected to push their opponents to the limit. Covering the spread should be doable as well. They won nine of their last 12 games. And despite coming from a defeat, the Heat brings plenty of presence on the road. Their last three road trips feature a 23-point victory against the Suns. Ultimately, this game can swing both ways and is a must-watch for basketball and betting fans.

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

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