Best NBA Bets Today: Celtics vs. Heat Predictions & Player Props 5/19

The Miami Heat looks to take a 2-0 lead on the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals tonight at FTX Arena with tip off slated for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. Trailing by eight points at halftime, the Heat outscored the Celtics 39-14 in the third quarter to propel them to a 118-107 victory in Game 1. Jimmy Butler poured in 17 of his game-high 41 points in the decisive frame while Gabe Vincent chipped in 10 of his 17 points in the quarter. Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Max Strus also reached double figures. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 54 points, though they knocked down just 17-of-38 field goal attempts, including 6-of-17 from beyond the arc. The teams have split their four meetings this year, but the Heat have now won 13 of their last 19 playoff games against the Celtics.

Best NBA Bets and Player Props

Celtics vs. Heat Prediction | Claim $200 FREE at BetMGM

Do not expect this game to be the same as Game 1 as the Heat and Celtics are now on the same rest level. Plus, Boston should get Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart (foot) back, although Al Horford (health and safety protocols) is expected to remain out. Miami will not have Kyle Lowry (hamstring) once again. However, with the Heat at home and the Celtics not at full strength, roll with the Miami. Game 2 will likely be more physical and less scoring. OddsShopper gives Miami a 58% chance of winning tonight.

Butler has been sensational this postseason, scoring 30 or more points six times and producing three double-doubles. He averages nearly 30 points on 53.5% shooting from the field to go along with 7.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists a game. Butler has also played well against the Celtics this year. Strus and Adebayo also have been valuable contributors throughout while Herro has been a little inconsistent.

The Heat continue to dominate at home. They are 7-0 during the playoffs, averaging 112.9 points on 48.4% along with 36.5% shooting from the 3-point line. However, they will have to clean some things up tonight to come out victorious. Miami will need to dominate the paint and keep the Celtics off the offensive glass.

Tatum and Brown have carried Boston offensively all season long. While they have gotten some big performances from others, it has not been consistent enough. Granted Robert Williams and Peyton Pritchard were terrific in Game 1, but Grant Williams and Derrick White were nonfactors. Grant Williams and White had a combined plus/minus rating of minus-25 in the series opener.

Smart’s return to the floor will most certainly benefit the Celtics, particularly on the defensive end and in terms of depth with White returning to the bench. But the absence of Horford hurts, especially if Grant Williams and Daniel Theis do not perform better than they did in the series opener. The playoffs have rejuvenated Horford, who leads the team in plus/minus rating during the postseason at 6.8. Meanwhile, Theis, Robert Williams and Grant Williams have a combined plus/minus rating of plus 0.2. Horford has been shooting and rebounding the ball extremely well this postseason. He averages 13.1 points and 2.1 3’s while shooting 52.5% from the field and 42.5% from deep. Boston is 5-9 in games, which includes losing six-of-eight games against teams that reached the playoffs, which Horford has missed this year.

If you have any reservations about riding with the Heat, BetMGM is giving away FREE money! All you have to do is bet $10 to win $200 if either the Heat or Celtics hit just one 3-pointer tonight.

Best NBA Bet Today: Heat Moneyline (-170) Over Celtics

Jayson Tatum Prop Bet | Claim $200 FREE at BetMGM

Given that Tatum will likely play lots of minutes and tends to step up when the lights shine the brightest, the prop bet of over 6.5 rebounds seems a tad too low. While Tatum has not done a great job hitting the boards this postseason, he has grabbed at least eight rebounds in three of his last five games. He averaged over eight rebounds during the regular season against the Celtics. Tatum is projected for 7.24 rebounds. OddsShopper gives the over a 58% chance of hitting with an expected ROI of 14%.

Best NBA Bet Today: Jayson Tatum Over 6.5 Rebounds

Best NBA Player Prop Bet Today: Jaylen Brown Over 5.5 Rebounds

Other Top Bets & Prop Picks | Claim $200 FREE at BetMGM

Robert Williams Under 9.5 Rebounds
Victor Oladipo Over 1.5 Assists

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