Boston’s 104-84 road victory in Game 3 delivered a statement of this Celtics team clearly being the better of the two on the court, but as we’ve seen in recent two playoff matchups — momentum swings heavy and often.

All three games in this series have been decided by double digits. Boston won Game 1 and 3 by 20 points each but the Heat responded in between with a 10-point victory in Game 2. In last season’s Eastern Conference Final, eight-seed Miami had a 3-0 series lead only for Boston to storm back with three double-digit wins, and then a 19-point Heat road win in Game 7.

What will happen next in this back-and-forth rivalry? Tip-off for Game 4 at the Kaseya Center is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, with Boston a 10.5-point road favourite and the over-under at 203.5 on the NBA odds.

Celtics vs. Heat NBA Betting Odds

The winning team has also covered in all of the first three games this series, the difference being Boston’s two victories saw the total go under and Miami finish under 100 points. Miami made 23 threes in their Game 2 victory — a franchise record in the playoffs — but are then 21 for 65 from the arc in their two losses.

Boston’s predictably been the steadier of these two clubs and continue to battle through road environments. The Celtics are 28-14 away from home this season and have five consecutive wins in Miami. Seven of the last 10 Heat–Celtics contests have finished under the total but it keeps dropping (down to 203.5 in Game 4) as going over 100 points in this series is a milestone.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are now 15-4 coming off a loss this season with the average victory margin at 12.2 points. The key to the Game 3 turnaround was Boston’s team defence. The Celtics held Miami to 32 field goals and nine made threes, yet another sign of Boston’s roster being championship quality. It was a win where Boston got ahead early and never looked back, cruising after getting out to a 63-39 lead at the half.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics balanced attack in Game 3 with 22 points each. Tatum’s still yet to pop off in the playoffs and it’s because he’s only drained five of his 21 attempts from the three-point arc. If he can get hot from three, Boston will reach a new level.

Miami Heat

Miami’s benchmark isn’t too hard; when they hit 100 points against the Celtics it usually results in a Heat win. Dating back to last year’s Eastern Conference Final, the Heat are 5-1 when they put up 100 points against Boston and 0-4 when they don’t. This go around, the biggest variance in Miami’s offensive play is their three-point shooting. In Game 2 the Heat connected on 23 three-pointers but they went cold in the two losses.

Starting point guard Tyler Herro has led the way with 12 made threes in the series and whether he catches fire or not has correlated with Miami’s outcome in each game. Caleb Martin is another key shooter for the Heat in this series. In Game 2 Martin shot five for six from the arc and in Miami’s two losses he’s a combined one for six. Miami will live and die by the three.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Celtics vs. Heat Game 4?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 26.85
Assists	Derrick White 5.16
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.12
FG%	Luke Kornet 70
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.19
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.95

MIA

Points	Tyler Herro 20.83
Assists	Jimmy Butler 4.97
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 10.38
FG%	Thomas Bryant 57.7
Steals	Delon Wright 1.36
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.93

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 25
Assists	Jayson Tatum 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 9.68
FG%	Neemias Queta 66.7
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.21
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.57

MIA

Points	Bam Adebayo 22.6
Assists	Tyler Herro 5.4
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.4
FG%	Thomas Bryant 71.4
Steals	Delon Wright 1
Blocks	Nikola Jovic 0.6

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Heat Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 26.85
Assists	Derrick White 5.16
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.12
FG%	Luke Kornet 70
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.19
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.95

MIA

Points	Tyler Herro 20.83
Assists	Jimmy Butler 4.97
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 10.38
FG%	Thomas Bryant 57.7
Steals	Delon Wright 1.36
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.93

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 25
Assists	Jayson Tatum 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 9.68
FG%	Neemias Queta 66.7
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.21
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.57

MIA

Points	Bam Adebayo 22.6
Assists	Tyler Herro 5.4
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.4
FG%	Thomas Bryant 71.4
Steals	Delon Wright 1
Blocks	Nikola Jovic 0.6

Injuries

Boston

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Prob Mon Leg - 11 / 06 / 24

Luke Kornet (C)

Ques Thurs Wrist - 30 / 05 / 24

Jrue Holiday (PG)

Prob Mon Illness - 26 / 05 / 24

Jrue Holiday (PG)

Prob Sun Illness - 25 / 05 / 24

Luke Kornet (C)

Prob Mon Wrist - 24 / 05 / 24

Xavier Tillman (PF)

Ques Sat Personal - 20 / 05 / 24

Luke Kornet (C)

Prob Mon Calf - 12 / 05 / 24

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Prob Thur Calf - 29 / 04 / 24

Luke Kornet (C)

Prob Sat Calf - 20 / 04 / 24

Al Horford (C)

Prob Sun Toe - 12 / 04 / 24

Miami

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Sat Arm - 26 / 04 / 24

Delon Wright (PG)

Prob Mon Personal - 26 / 04 / 24

Nikola Jovic (SF)

Prob Wed Back - 24 / 04 / 24

Haywood Highsmith (SF)

Prob Wed Arm - 23 / 04 / 24

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Wed Arm - 23 / 04 / 24

Duncan Robinson (SF)

Prob Wed Back - 23 / 04 / 24

Duncan Robinson (SF)

Prob Sun Spine - 20 / 04 / 24

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 18 / 04 / 24

Duncan Robinson (SF)

Prob Fri Spine - 18 / 04 / 24

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Wed Arm - 14 / 04 / 24

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Prob Mon	Leg - 11 / 06 / 24	1-1	0-3	+ -
Porzingis is nursing a lower leg injury, but he is expected to be on court against the Mavericks on Monday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Luke Kornet (C)	Ques Thurs	Wrist - 30 / 05 / 24	2-2	0-5	+ -
Kornet is dealing with a left wrist sprain injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks on Thursday.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	Prob Mon	Illness - 26 / 05 / 24	3-3	2-5	+ -
Holiday is ailing from illness, but he is projected to be on court against the Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	Prob Sun	Illness - 25 / 05 / 24	3-3	2-5	+ -
Holiday is dealing with a non-COVID illness, but he is likely to be on court against the Pacers on Sunday.
Luke Kornet (C)	Prob Mon	Wrist - 24 / 05 / 24	3-3	2-5	+ -
Kornet is dealing with a left wrist sprain injury, but he is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Xavier Tillman (PF)	Ques Sat	Personal - 20 / 05 / 24	3-5	4-5	+ -
Tillman has missed the last two game because of the personal reasons, and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against the Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Luke Kornet (C)	Prob Mon	Calf - 12 / 05 / 24	4-7	5-7	+ -
Kornet has a right calf injury, but he is expected to feature in the lineup against the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Prob Thur	Calf - 29 / 04 / 24	8-7	7-9	+ -
Porzingis is dealing with a right calf strain, and he is expected to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks on Thursday.
Luke Kornet (C)	Prob Sat	Calf - 20 / 04 / 24	9-8	9-10	+ -
Kornet has been out of commission with a right calf strain, but he is expected to return to the court for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Sun	Toe - 12 / 04 / 24	10-9	11-10	+ -
Horford has a left big toe sprain, but he is expected to line up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Miami

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Sat	Arm - 26 / 04 / 24	1-2	1-2	+ -
Love is tending to a left arm contusion, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Celtics.
Delon Wright (PG)	Prob Mon	Personal - 26 / 04 / 24	1-2	1-2	+ -
Wright is dealing with a personal matter, but it is predicted that he will face the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Nikola Jovic (SF)	Prob Wed	Back - 24 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Jovic is dealing with a back injury, but it is anticipated that he will not suit up for Wednesday's tilt versus the Celtics.
Haywood Highsmith (SF)	Prob Wed	Arm - 23 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Highsmith is tending to a left arm contusion, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Wed	Arm - 23 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Love has a left arm contusion, but it is projected that he will take on the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Duncan Robinson (SF)	Prob Wed	Back - 23 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Robinson is managing left facet syndrome, but it is likely that he will dress for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Celtics.
Duncan Robinson (SF)	Prob Sun	Spine - 20 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Robinson is dealing with left facet syndrome, but it is not expected to impact his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Celtics.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 18 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Butler is shut down with an MCL sprain in his right knee, and he will miss an extended period.
Duncan Robinson (SF)	Prob Fri	Spine - 18 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Robinson is battling left facet syndrome, but he is projected to take the court for Friday's clash versus the Bulls.
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Wed	Arm - 14 / 04 / 24	2-4	3-3	+ -
Love is tending to an upper left arm contusion, but it is likely that he will be available for the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament versus the 76ers.