It’s make or break time in the Eastern Conference finals where the Boston Celtics can either even up the series or fall behind 3-1 to the Miami Heat. The Celtics have been favoured in each game in the series and the trend carries over to Game 4 where oddsmakers have the Heat as 3-point underdogs.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Boston handed the Heat just their second loss of the playoffs by taking Game 3 in convincing fashion. The Celtics jumped out to an early lead and never gave it up. At no point did Miami lead in the contest.

Gordon Hayward made his return to the Celtics’ active roster for the first time since Boston’s first playoff game, but it was the core four doing the heavy lifting. Marcus Smart, Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 92 points, 21 assists and 31 rebounds.

While the Celtics are Game 4 favourites, they remain underdogs in the series. Sports Interaction lists the C’s at +120 to win the Eastern Conference. That means a $100 bet on the Celtics would pay $120 if they dusted off the Heat. 

Miami is -167 to win the series – which equals an implied probability of 62.5 percent. It also means you’d have to risk $167 to win $100 on the Heat in the series. The South Florida hoops team is the second favourite to win the NBA title at SIA at +500 while the Celtics are next shortest at +700. The Los Angeles Lakers remain the odds-on favourites at -500. 

SIA bettors see Game 4 as a coin toss. It’s almost an even split on the point spread action with 52 percent backing the Heat to cover as 3-point underdogs. The handle isn’t as divided when it comes to the total. Nearly 75 percent of Sports Interaction players expect the game to go Over the 210.5-point total.

Boston Celtics

Jaylen Brown is giving the Celtics exactly what they need in this series: efficient offence at one end and stout defence at the other end. His shooting was the obvious story in Game 3 after making 11 of his 17 attempts from the field. 

The bigger talking point might be the job he’s doing defending Miami star Jimmy Butler. The All-Star wing is just 2-for-8 shooting from the floor in the series with Brown as the primary defender. Butler is averaging just 17 points per game in the series.

Miami Heat

Did the Celtics solve the Heat riddle the rest of the Eastern Conference failed to figure or did Miami just have a cold night from 3-point land? Erik Spoelstra’s side made just 27 percent from distance on 44 attempts in Game 3.

Who Will Win Celtics vs. Heat?

CELTICS

Away

113

HEAT

Home

107

Score
Predictions

Matchup