Again without All-Star guard Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat have almost no shot of beating the Celtics in Game 2 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series in Boston on Wednesday night.

The C’s are mammoth 14.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds.

Heat vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds

When Miami All-Star guard Jimmy Butler went down with a knee injury in the team’s first play-in tournament game, which will cost him weeks, any shot the Heat had of repeating as Eastern Conference champions completely vanished. They stunned Boston in seven games in the 2023 East Finals but are not winning this series barring some key Celtics guys getting hurt.

With Boston claiming Game 1 by a lopsided score of 114-94, it is now -20000 on the series line with Miami at +4000. A Boston sweep is the -175 favourite, but I tend to think the Heat get one game at home. Celtics in five is +200. On the series game spread, Boston is -160 at -3.5 games and Miami is +130 at +3.5. C’s All-Star Jayson Tatum is the -250 leader as the series’ top scorer and -150 as its assists leader with the Heat’s Bam Adebayo the -115 favourite as the top rebounder. Miami guard Tyler Herro is the +125 favourite for the most three-pointers.

The Celtics are -250 to win the Eastern Conference and +140 for the NBA title – I don’t see anyone stopping them. Tatum is currently the +240 leader for Finals MVP. Boston over Denver at +325 is the favoured exact NBA Finals result. Can’t really argue with that, either.

Miami Heat

In addition to playing without their best player in Game 1 in the injured Jimmy Butler (out for series), Miami also was without its big midseason trade acquisition in guard Terry Rozier, and he’s week-to-week with a neck injury. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. started for Butler in Game 1 and was solid with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. But Tyler Herro, who was stellar in the play-in tournament victory over Chicago to advance, was just 4-for-13 for 11 points. Herro has made at least one three-pointer in 35 straight games, though. Bam Adebayo was easily Miami’s best player with 24 points and six rebounds, while veteran Delon Wright had 17 off the bench. In normal situations, the former Raptor would barely see the court, but the Heat are clearly short on guards. Miami was one of the NBA’s top defensive teams in the regular season in allowing 108.4 points per game and has now held its opponents under its season scoring average in 25 straight games, doing so by an average of minus-10.9 points. Boston averaged 120.6 points during the regular season and landed 6.6 points under that in the opener. The Heat are 6-3 ATS in their past nine.

Boston Celtics

Really not a shock the Celtics blasted the Heat in Game 1 considering Miami was short-handed and Boston had the payback angle for the 2023 East Finals loss. They C’s jumped out to a 14-0 lead after just three minutes and the game was already over. Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum had the first playoff triple-double of his NBA career with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The last Boston playoff triple-double was by Marcus Smart on Sept. 9, 2020 in the Orlando bubble against Toronto. The Celtics tied their franchise playoff record with 22 made three-pointers and outscored the Heat 66-36 from deep. Boston also pulled down as many defensive rebounds as Miami grabbed total rebounds (34). The Celtics are now 38-4 at home this season (23-17-2 ATS). They are 2-5 ATS in their past seven at home vs. Miami.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Heat vs. Celtics Game 2?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Heat Team Leaders

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 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	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

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

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

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 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	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

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

Injuries

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

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

Injuries

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.

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.