Celtics vs. Heat Game 1 Betting: Heat to maintain perfect home record, take 1-0 ECF lead

Only eight wins separate four hopeful teams from an NBA championship. In the Eastern Conference, the last two teams standing are the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, who open the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night in Miami.

While the two top seeds in the Western Conference were both eliminated in the second round, the matchup for the East finals features the top two seeds.

The top-seeded Heat saw off the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in five games and the fourth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in six games to reach this point, as they seek their second NBA Finals appearance in three seasons. The second-seeded Celtics, meanwhile, swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round and outlasted Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games.

This series is a rematch of the 2020 Eastern Conference finals, which the Heat won in six games in the Disney bubble. In that series, the Heat struck the first blow with an overtime win. Will they grab an early advantage this time around as well?

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat (2022 Eastern Conference Finals Game 1) Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: #2 Boston Celtics vs. #1 Miami Heat
• Venue & Location: FTX Arena (Miami, Florida)
• Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2022
• Time: 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time
• How to Watch Celtics vs. Heat Game 1: ESPN

Heat vs. Celtics Game 1 Odds

Odds are via our top reviewed and recommended sportsbooks.

BetOnline

• Spread: Boston Celtics +2 (-110), Miami Heat -2 (-110)
• Over/Under: OVER 204 (-110), UNDER 204 (-110)
• Moneyline: Boston Celtics +110, Miami Heat -130

Bovada Sportsbook

• Spread: Boston Celtics +2 (-110), Miami Heat -2 (-110)
• Over/Under: OVER 203.5 (-110), UNDER 203.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Boston Celtics +115, Miami Heat -135

BetUS

• Spread: Boston Celtics +2 (-110), Miami Heat -2 (-112)
• Over/Under: OVER 204 (-109), UNDER 204 (-112)
• Moneyline: Boston Celtics +110, Miami Heat -134

No Lowry, No Problem for the Heat?

Entering Game 1, both sides have some notable injury concerns.

For the Celtics, Marcus Smart, the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, is listed as questionable due to a foot sprain. For the Heat, P.J. Tucker (calf), Gabe Vincent (hamstring), and Caleb Martin (ankle) are all also listed as questionable.

But thus far, the only notable confirmed absence is Heat guard Kyle Lowry, who will miss his seventh game of the playoffs due to a hamstring injury.

From an experience standpoint, Lowry is one of the few Heat players who have an NBA championship ring, so not having his experience on the floor is a blow.

However, the Heat have been just fine without him thus far. In six playoff games without him, they are a perfect four for four at home and have won all six games: two in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks and all four wins over the 76ers in the second round.

And when Lowry has been on the floor in the playoffs, he hasn’t exactly put up the numbers we have seen in the past.

In his previous four postseason trips, Lowry shot 45.6 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from three. But in six games in this year’s playoffs, he is shooting only 29.7 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from three and is averaging just 6.2 points per game.

He is averaging 5.2 assists to 1.6 turnovers, which comes out to a better assist-to-turnover ratio than he has in his career, and he can certainly be an asset in this series or in the NBA Finals., but his absence won’t be as key to the Heat’s fortunes as other factors.

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat Prediction and Best Bets

Celtics vs. Heat Prediction: Heat 98, Celtics 93

Celtics vs. Heat Best Bets: Heat -2 (-110 at BetOnline and Bovada Sportsbook) & UNDER 204 (-110 at BetOnline)

In the regular season, the Heat posted the Eastern Conference’s best home record at 29-12, and they are 6-0 at FTX Arena thus far in the playoffs.

The Celtics counter that with an 18-4 record in their last 22 road games, including a 4-1 mark in the playoffs. Thus far, home teams are 8-4 in Game 1s in this year’s playoffs, with Eastern Conference teams logging a 5-1 record.

Winning Game 1 won’t necessarily mean much for the course of the Eastern Conference finals, but the Heat will remain undefeated at home in the playoffs and grab a 1-0 lead in the series.

Best Prop Pick for Celtics vs. Heat

• Max Strus over 12.5 points (-110 at Bovada Sportsbook)

Strus made vital contributions in a number of the Heat’s wins in the first two rounds and is averaging 12.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 2.2 APG in 11 games thus far.

In the final two games against Philadelphia, he had 19 points and 10 rebounds and 20 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, and he made four threes in both games. Look for him to pick up where he left off against the Sixers and help contribute to a Game 1 win.