Celtics vs Miami Heat Predictions and Betting Tips 3 Dec 2024 - NBA Prediction
NLB Staff
01.12.2024 18:26
Celtics vs Heat Prediction
As the Boston Celtics enter this game on a hot streak, they play a Miami unit that has slowly regained its form from the last couple of seasons. Knowing that this Boston squad won by 9 points last time out, their opponents in Miami beat Toronto 121-111. This game will occur on December 3rd at 6:00 A.M. IST in T.D. Garden of Boston. Underneath are our key betting tips, top player props, head-to-head matchups, and vital injuries to create a scoreline for this game.
Celtics vs Heat Betting Tips & Predictions
1. Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Moneyline Pick
With this game’s money line at -168, the Celtics should win it because of their elite advantages at every position. Having Jrue Holiday be a stronger offensive and defense piece than Terry Rozier, he should outscore him. With Derrick White having a mismatch against a weaker defender in Tyler Herro, he should use size to win as a passer-plus scorer in this game. An elite forward combination with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown should control the likes of Jimmy Butler plus Haywood Highsmith. Although Bam Adebayo is a better scorer than Al Horford, the Celtics center will keep it competitive so the Celtics can win their -168 money line and 4th straight vs Miami.
2. Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Point Spread Pick
Seeing that the spread is -3.5 in this game, it should be taken due to Boston’s two-way ability compared to Miami. With Jrue Holiday being a quick guard who can score near the basket through his ball-handling skills, his improved passing ability has made him a very solid combo guard. Someone who makes perimeter shots too, his matchup against a weaker defender like Terry Rozier should be won pretty easily. As Rozier is more of an offensive player, Holiday’s ability to move side-to-side on defense will force him to have way tougher looks at the basket. Knowing that and Rozer is smaller, he will miss a lot of looks while also getting the passes stolen from quick hands like those of Holiday. Having another bigger body at shooting guard, Derrick White should handle Tyler Herro as a stronger passer and rebounder too. Although Herro can hit his threes, White will close out while also being a physical force that will cause the Heat SG into a lot of bad passes. With Jaylen Brown being a two-way force, many will realize that he can dominate another one like him Jimmy Butler in that position because of his relentless energy and skill to find a basket through strength. Although Butler can drive in to score, Brown won’t let him due to his ability to create blocks and instead force the Heat shooting guard to make more unconventional threes. Having Jayson Tatum go against a much smaller Haywood Highsmith, he should completely dominate this matchup on both ends as a better rebounder, more efficient scorer, and elite blocker. To round it out, Al Horford will have a very competitive scoring battle with Bam Adebayo, but his offensive smarts will get the Celtics center more assists. Having a close rebounding matchup, the spread is at -3.5 should be taken as a great pick for Boston.
3. Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Over/Under Pick (Total Points)
As the over/under is 210.5 points during this game, it is going to be a game that has a bit of scoring. Mostly carried by the Boston Celtics, in this matchup Miami will be led by a point guard that can drive in or create from outside. With a shooting guard who's a very solid deep shooter, their small forward continues to be a great all-around piece as well. Knowing they have a stretch 5 at center, they go up against a Boston squad led by one of the best driving guards at PG. His ability to get layups and hit mid-range helps their shooting guard be a great passer-plus scorer as well. Having one of the best forward duos with do-it-all threats that attack the basket with ease, their center continues to be a strong inside finisher and knockdown shooter as well. With their bench having a strong sixth-man three-point shooter, they should be somewhere near their 216 combined points from last time.
Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Top Player Props
Jayson Tatum over 26.5 points at 1.87: As the Celtics power forward continues being one of the top mid-range and inside scorers, he hopes to continue his prowess once again. Lined up against Haywood Highsmith, he can size him up for fade-aways with ease while also knocking down deep threes. Someone averaging 28.7 points a night, he should be somewhere in this range during the game.
Haywood Highsmith under 7.5 points at 1.80: Seeing that Haywood Highsmith has been a very low-volume scorer this season, he will continue struggling against a top-tier defender. Matched with Jayson Tatum, this forward will not be able to drive and find a deep shot with ease against the Celtics star’s length. Averaging 6.6 points a game, this youngster will hit the under during this game.
Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Injury News & Impact
Boston Celtics Injuries: As this Celtics squad has no current injuries at the moment, they should continue running out with their same lineups under head coach Joe Muzzula.
Miami Heat Injuries: With Josh Richardson returning after an illness, this unit is still without depth piece Nikola Jovic, due to an ankle injury, as he was averaging 7.7 points a night.
Celtics vs Heat Head-to-Head Trends
Seeing that Boston has won the last three matchups against Miami, they will continue building upon this streak as the much more favorable squad. As this Celtics squad averages 124.0 points a game in their previous three games, they look to build on this and three straight games scoring over 100. Being 5-2 against the spread vs Miami over their last 7 matchups, Boston should make this record even stronger.
Betting Insights & Public Trends
As the public trends show, Boston is favored by 62.7% of bettors to win this game against the Miami Heat.
Celtics vs Heat Final Prediction
As Boston enters this matchup having been on one of the hottest streaks in NBA play, it should continue against an easier opponent in Miami. Knowing that they have a huge size advantage in this matchup at most positions, Boston should dominate starting with Jrue Holiday at point guard. Seeing that he is one of the strongest combo guards that can score layups and find open shooters around the floor, he can create a great plan for this offense every time down the floor. With his matchup being Terry Rozier, he should have a bunch of steals and create traps to force Miami’s guard into a tough outing. As Rozier is more of a ball-handler, Holiday will reach in a lot to create transition offense while also creating chances for others to get turnovers. Having Derrick White as a shooting guard gives this squad a piece that can rebound and pass at a very high level. Going up against Tyler Herro, he can limit his three-point scoring and also cause him to take extra dribbles for tougher jumpers. Seeing that plus White has a size advantage, he should outscore Herro with ease in this matchup and continue dominating both ends.
With Jaylen Brown at small forward against Jimmy Butler, his ability to create from anywhere and be a very strong rebounder will control the Heat’s star’s game. As Butler is known to score inside, he will be forced more out due to Brown’s perimeter defense and forced to pass it away. Knowing that Brown will be going in for steals, he can finish on the other end with dunks and is a solid three-point shooter in general too. With Jayson Tatum having a huge size advantage against Haywood Highsmith, he can set up his mid-range game wonderfully and drive in for multiple dunks. As a stronger long-range shooter as well, he will connect from there and block Highmsmith many times due to length. Having a rebounding advantage will help Al Horford’s passing plus defensive positive against Bam Adeyabo in the middle. With Boston having Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauesr off the bench, the only way Miami keeps it close is if Duncan Robinson continues being a great shooter.
Our prediction: Boston Celtics win and cover their -3.5 spread, while the score goes over 210.5 points.
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