The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat will face off against each other this Sunday night in Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals.
The Heat are one step away from the NBA Finals, but they already blew a chance last Friday, as the Celtics won Game 5, so Sunday’s clash will be an epic one. Hereof, we bring you the best betting pick for the Celtics versus Heat showdown along with the latest odds and all need-to-know tips and trends.
Injuries/Suspensions
The Celtics are without Romeo Langford and Vincent Poirier, while the Heat can count on all their players.
The Line
Boston is listed as a 3.5-point fave on BetAmerica for the fourth straight game. Miami is a +140 moneyline dog with a total of 214.0 points, while the Celtics are set as -150 moneyline favorites.
What’s at Stake?
The Celtics will play with their backs against the wall for the second straight outing. The stake is enormous, but that’s expected in the conference finals.
The Spot
The Heat were 3-1 up on Friday. They controlled the first half of Game 5 and had a seven-point lead at the break, but the Heat fell apart in the third, and the Celtics cruised for the rest of the way. Boston won 121-108, and I think the momentum is on their side.
The Matchup
Miami shot only 7-for-36 from downtown in Game 5 while surrendering a whopping 41 points in the third quarter. That’s two things the Heat need to change Sunday; they have to be consistent for all 48 minutes and need to improve their shot selection a lot.
On the other side, the Celtics hit 12 triples out of 38 attempts (31.6%). They scored eight points in the paint more than the Heat while adding 17 on the fast break. Furthermore, the Celtics outrebounded the Heat (50-38) which was a big difference in Game 5.
Jayson Tatum put on a strong performance, accounting for 31 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. He shot only 8-for-22 from the field, but Tatum was a key sparkle in the Celtics’ second-half run.
Marcus Smart was terrific, delivering 12 points, eight boards, eight dimes, and four steals, while Jaylen Brown had 28 points and eight rebounds.
On the other side, Duncan Robinson scored 20 points for the Heat but shot only 3-for-11 from deep. Jimmy Butler added 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, but the Heat simply played poorly on both sides of the ball.
It’s fair to say it was Miami’s worst outing this postseason in the bubble. The Heat are 4-2 SU and ATS in six meetings with the Celtics at Disney’s. However, Boston is 13-7 straight up in its previous 20 encounters with Miami.
The Bets
I got burned last time, expecting to see a much tighter contest. The Celtics didn’t surprise me, but the Heat’s performance was a huge disappointment.
With their season on the brink yet again, the Celtics will give everything they have n Game 6, so I’m backing them to win straight up at -150 odds. I have the same expectations, looking for a close game down the stretch, and I don’t trust Miami after a poor display last Friday.
Of course, the Heat will play better this time (it’s tough to expect another horrible shooting night), but I just think this series deserves Game 7. And the Celtics should have enough firepower to force it. They are 2-0 when facing the elimination this postseason.