The Miami Heat take on the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the 2020 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals this Friday night, and we have prepared all need-to-know betting tips and trends along with the best betting pick.
The Heat are one step away from the 2020 NBA Finals, so Friday’s clash in the bubble will be a joy to watch, as the Celtics have to bring their best game if they want to avoid the elimination.
Injuries/Suspensions
Miami is coming in full strength, as Bam Adebayo will be ready to go after hurting his wrist in Game 4. Boston misses Vincent Poirier (personal) and Romeo Langford (wrist).
The Line
Once more, the Celtics are listed as 3.5-point favorites on DraftKings. They were 3.5-point favorites in a 117-106 win in Game 3 and 112-109 loss in Game 4. The totals are set at 213.0 points with both over and under at -110 odds.
The Heat are +140 moneyline dogs on BetAmerica.
What’s at Stake?
The Celtics season is on the line, while the Heat are searching for their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014.
The Spot
We had a three-day pause after Game 3, so neither side should struggle with fatigue. The Heat are obviously in a commanding position, while the Celtics don’t have a choice and need to bounce back from a disappointing Game 4 defeat.
The Matchup
The Celtics won Game 3 thanks to some terrific defense and a well-executed offense. The Heat struggled mightily in that clash, making just 38.8% of their field goals and 27.3% of their 3-pointers.
We saw a similar scenario in Game 4, as Miami shot 42.9% from the field and 27.0% from downtown, while the Celtics hit 47.6% of their field goals and 35.0% of their triples. However, the Heat took care of the ball and committed only eight turnovers, while the Celtics turned the ball over 19 times.
That was a clear difference between these two foes in Game 4, but I have to mention Tyler Herro’s tremendous performance. The Heat rookie accounted for 37 points, six rebounds, and three assists off the bench. He shot 14-for-21 from the field and 5-for-10 from deep.
On the other side, Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 28 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, but he also had six turnovers. Boston’s starting five combined for 23 assists and 18 turnovers, and that’s simply unacceptable.
The Bets
The Heat are 4-1 SU and ATS in their five meetings with the Celtics in the bubble. They will be keen to finish the job Friday, but I’m staying away from the side bet and the spread as well. I’m not interested in totals either, but I will take any side to win by five or fewer points at +190 odds.
I did it in Game 4 and it paid off. This should be a very tight clash, and I expect the Celtics to win it and prolong this series. Still, I would rather tease the Heat and take them as 10-point underdogs than betting on the Celtics to cover a 3.5-point spread.
The previous game was close for all 48 minutes. The Heat had a 12-point lead early in the third quarter, but it melted down quickly. Therefore, I will take a risk once again, looking for another contest that would be decided by five or fewer points.