Heat vs. Celtics NBA Prediction
There’s an NBA double header on ESPN Sunday, starting with a matchup between the Heat and Celtics at 1:00 p.m. ET. With Boston listed as a slight home favorite and the total sitting at 221 points, what’s the safest play on the board when it comes to this matchup?
Game Snapshot
501 Miami Heat (+1) at 502 Boston Celtics (-1); o/u 221
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, May 9, 2021
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Miami Heat DFS Notes
Jimmy Butler (illness) returned with 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and a season-high-tying five steals in 36 minutes on Friday. Butler shot 7-of-15 from the field and 11-of-14 from the line in a 121-112 win vs. the visiting Wolves. The Celtics lost tonight and as a result Miami moves into the No. 6 seed a full game ahead of Boston. The stakes are high since the No. 7 seed goes to the play-in tournament, giving Butler extra incentive to suit up for his team’s final five games. The play-in system isn’t universally liked, to say the least, but it’s certainly beneficial for fantasy managers.
Boston Celtics DFS Notes
Kemba Walker poured in a season-high 33 points in a loss at Chicago on Friday, hitting 10-of-21 field goals and 7-of-8 free throws with four boards, three assists, a steal and a block. Kemba was also 6-of-13 from distance tonight, providing a bright spot in an otherwise dreary game for the Celtics, who lost by 22 points despite holding the Bulls to 43.4% shooting. The Celtics’ deliberate plan to ramp up Kemba this season is paying dividends, as he looks spry and has now scored 20+ points in five straight games for the first time all season. Just be mindful that Boston isn’t backing away from resting him in back-to-back situations, which means two more DNPs are coming his way in the final five games.
Heat vs. Celtics Game Prediction
The Heat have covered seven of their last nine meetings with the Celtics in Boston and are 3-1-1 against the number in their last five games overall. The Celtics, meanwhile, are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games as a favorite, are 2-6 against the number in their last eight games overall and are 0-6 at the betting window in their last six games playing on one day of rest.
NBA PREDICTION: MIAMI HEAT +1