- Date & Location: Wednesday, May 25 at FTX Arena in Miami. Florida
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are playing in the 2022 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The 2022 NBA season marks the third time the teams have faced each other in the Conference Finals and the fifth time they have played each other in the postseason.
The first time the teams met in the playoffs was in the first round in 2010. Boston won that series in five games. Since then, the Heat have prevailed, beating the Celtics in the semifinals in 2011 in five games and then winning in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012 (seven games) and 2020 (six games). With Boston’s win in Game 4, this series is tied 2-2.
Miami are the No. 1 seeded team in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks (4-1) in the first round before claiming their place in the Conference Finals with a six-game series win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston are the No. 2 team in the East. The Celtics swept Brooklyn in the first round and then went seven games with defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinal round.
Before we look at Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Series between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, check out the odds for the 2022 NBA Playoffs and our guide to betting on the NBA.
Celtics vs. Heat Game 5 odds
Boston Celtics breakdown and analysis
The Boston Celtics corrected their turnover issues from Game 3 in Monday’s Game 4 against the Miami Heat and things worked out well for the Boston club. After a game where the Celtics had 17 turnovers, they cut that number to 9 — the same as the Heat — in Game 4. The Celtics were still outshot by the Heat, but like Game 3, they had a better field goal percentage 39.7 percent to 33.3 percent.
Boston’s starters dominated in Game 4 with four of the five players hitting double digits in points. Jayson Tatum lead the team with 31 points. Al Horford didn’t hit double digits in points, but he contributed with 13 rebounds, three assists and four blocks. Payton Pritchard was second in scoring for the Celtics, putting up 14 points on 25 minutes off the bench.
Boston’s fast start in Game 4 — they opened things up with a 26-4 lead — was a big reason for their 102-82 win on Monday.
Miami Heat breakdown and analysis
The Miami Heat’s starting five had a dismal game on Monday. In Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Boston Celtics, Miami’s starters scored a combined 18 points. P.J. Tucker and Max Strus both scored zero points on 21 and 15 minutes played. The other three starters, Jimmy Butler (six points), Bam Adebayo (nine points) and Kyle Lowry (three points) all played more than 20 minutes. Victor Oladipo led the Heat in scoring with 23 points on 30 minutes off the bench.
The 18 points from the Heat’s starting five was the lowest total from a team’s starters in the postseason since that stat was first tracked in 1970-71.
Like Boston needed to fix its turnover issue in Game 3, Miami needs more from all of its starters in Game 5.
Our pick
With the way the Miami Heat played in Game 4 and the questions surrounding the health of Jimmy Butler’s knee, it’s hard to pick Miami in Game 5, even with the series returning to Miami.
Pick: Boston Celtics to beat Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
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