Celtics vs. Heat NBA Odds, Game 6 Betting Predictions & Promotions
Ahead of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, Boston Celtics odds were priced between -500 and -550 to arrive on the biggest stage in consecutive seasons. Now, Jayson Tatum & Co. aim to become to first team in league history to overcome a 3-0 postseason series deficit. Let’s examine the Game 6 betting market against the Miami Heat, which has the Celtics priced as a road favorite. The total is set at .
Click on any of the Heat – Celtics odds in this article to place a wager.
Game 6: Heat vs. Celtics Odds
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Celtics Odds & Game 6 Betting Predictions
Throughout much of the NBA playoffs odds, bettors correctly assessed that Boston’s defense wasn’t nearly as robust as what the 2022 Eastern Conference champs resembled. Whether or not one considers that a product of the coaching shift from Ime Udoka to Joe Mazzulla, Miami averaged 1.24 PPP over the first three games in this series.
Takeaways From 2023 Eastern Conference Finals
In particular, the Heat shot 58.8% (on 34 attempts) on wide-open 3-point attempts (at least six feet of space) — en route to a 3-0 series lead — while the Celtics hit just 32.6% (on 43 attempts) in those situations.
But the script has flipped ever since. Tatum and his cohorts have tallied a 50% clip (17-of-34) on wide-open perimeter looks over the last two contests. Moreover, Marcus Smart — a career 32.3% 3-point marksman — recouped his stroke from behind the arc in Game 5, going 4-of-6 from deep.
Conversely, only 7.7% of the Heat’s 3-point attempts have been of the wide-open variety over the last two games. Up until that point, they relied on the likes of Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, and Max Strus to create space around the arc, especially in transition. However, Boston’s switching defense has had their number of late. That is a product of the Celtics half-court defense getting set as a result of their elevated offensive efficiency, too.
Overall, Miami has shot way above its head in the playoffs (38%) after generating the fourth-lowest perimeter clip in the regular season. That level of sustainability is certainly up for debate.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Heat didn’t have Gabe Vincent (ankle sprain) in their lineup on Thursday. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
Even if Vincent set to suit up in a potential close-out game, he may not be at 100%. Couple that with Kyle Lowry looking like a shell of his former self, and Miami’s spacing concerns could remain an issue.
Related: NBA Finals Odds
Will Celtics Extend Series To Game 7?
Including the playoffs, Boston is 51-12 straight up in games when they make 15 or more 3-pointers. During the regular season, the Warriors were the lone team to knock down 15-plus 3s in more games than the Celtics (53). Hence, they’re heavily reliant on their productivity from distance.
Erik Spoelstra’s unit, which sits behind Denver for the second-rated defense among postseason participants, is most comfortable guarding the 3-point line in a half-court setting. One could argue it’s also received a bit of luck throughout the playoffs — even before Boston’s initial 3-point woes arrived.
Miami’s postseason opponents have notched the fifth-lowest efficiency on wide-open 3-point shots (36.7%). Assuming Boston’s swarming defense continues to translate into clean 3s at the other end, that percentage should rise further than it already has after Games 4 and 5.
The best available odds on the Celtics to win the series are . For context, 149 teams have previously been dealt a 3-0 series deficit in a seven-game NBA playoffs series, and none of them were able to complete the comeback. Of those instances, three teams have won three straight games to force a decisive Game 7. That includes the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers, 1994 Denver Nuggets, and the 1951 New York Knicks.
But if you’re into trends, the Heat are 3-0 straight up as home dogs this postseason. For context, a $100 bettor would be up $480.
Regarding the total, there’s been an adjustment from the typical 214-16 range that we’ve seen thus far. As previously noted, it’s currently at . Nevertheless, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Each of the last two games went under, coinciding with Boston’s defensive resurgence.
Heat vs. Celtics Odds: NBA Player Props
How to Watch Heat vs. Celtics
This game is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. EST on Saturday. You can catch all of the action on TNT.
Celtics’ Odds: Sports Betting Promos
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