Celtics vs Heat Betting Odds – Boston Looks to Sweep Season Series

The Super Bowl betting line is a hot topic as the two top teams in the NFL are heading to Miami, FL but there is a struggling team leaving that town in the NBA on Wednesday. The Heat take their two-game losing streak on the road when they travel to Boston to take on a Celtic team that has beaten them twice already this year.

The Storyline - Celtics vs Heat betting odds breakdown 
The Celtics are coming off a convincing 99-88 win over the Washington Wizards after dropping three straight to Orlando, Atlanta and the Lakers. While Miami (24-24) is not as good as those three teams, this should be a close game as the Heat are much better than the Wizards. Miami has dropped four of five and are starting a stretch of games that sees them play seven of their next eight on the road. 

Offensive Matchups – Celtics vs Heat betting odds breakdown 
The Celtics are not usually a high scoring team due to their slowed down, half court style offence and gruelling defence. Over the past nine games however, they are scoring even fewer than normal being held to just 91.5 points per game. Paul Pierce, as usual, is leading the team scoring just under 19 a game as the team spreads the scoring around with six players averaging double figures.

This Miami team offence revolves around Dwyane Wade’s 27 points and 6.2 assists a game and you can expect another big night for the Marquette product. With Boston’s stifling defence, Miami will need players like Michael Beasley and Jermaine O’Neal to step up and score points if they want to be in this contest.   

Betting Edge: Celtics

Defensive Matchups – Celtics vs Heat betting odds breakdown  
Even without Garnett playing at his best, Boston is one of the top defences in the league and holds teams to under 94 points. Second in steals, forced turnovers and points against, this team gets after it on defence and will need to play hard against a Heat team that has the second fewest turnovers.

The Heat have been good defensively holding teams to under 97 a game, however they do not have the length and size to match up against the Celtics. Beasley and his wonky knee will have the task of guarding Garnett at the offensive end, which will put his health to the test. Jermaine O’Neal has been pulling down more boards, 37 in his last four games, then his season average and over two blocks a game in his last 10 and will be needed to solidify an undersized frontcourt.

Betting Edge: Celtics

Notable Injuries – Celtics vs Heat betting odds breakdown
Marquis Daniels is the lone injury for the Celtics, however before rushing out to do sports betting remember the old bodies on the Celtics are tired, banged up and not yet back to 100 percent.

Jermaine O’Neal missed Monday’s game against the Bucks with back spasms but is expected back against Boston along with Mario Chalmers who has missed two games with a sprained thumb.  Michael Beasley was back in uniform on Monday wearing a bulky brace to protect his hyperextended right knee and is expected to play again on Wednesday however he will be slowed.

Betting Edge: Celtics

Betting Prediction – Celtics vs Heat betting odds breakdown 
While the Celtics have lost three of their last four, the experts setting the lines at sportsbook know that Boston was playing three quality opponents in the losses. Miami is not a quality opponent to the Celtics. They are a low seeded playoff team with a bunch of nagging injuries, going up against a top six team in the league that is just getting healthy. Boston should sweep the season series.

CRAIG’s Pick: Celtics