Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Prediction, 5/19/2022 Preview and Pick

Game: Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2022

Location: FTX Arena in Miami, FL

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Boston (+5)

The Miami Heat will try to beat the Boston Celtics at FTX Arena on Thursday in Game 2 of their series. The Heat lead 1-0. Miami opens this game as 5-point favorites from Vegas oddsmakers. The total has been set at 205.5.

The Celtics walked away from Game 1 with a loss by a score of 118-107. With respect to personal fouls, the Celtics ended up finishing with 23 while the Heat accumulated 12 personal fouls. They converted 10 of their 30 attempts from beyond the arc. Miami went 88.2% from the free throw line by making 30 of their 34 attempts. Additionally, Miami pulled down 30 rebounds (9 offensive, 21 defensive) and added 8 blocked shots. Miami distributed 39 dimes and had 18 steals in the matchup. With respect to defending, Boston allowed 48.8% from the floor on 39 out of 80 shooting. They also recorded 22 assists in the game in addition to forcing the opposition into 12 turnovers and earning 8 steals. When it comes to hauling in boards, they earned 38 with 8 of them being of the offensive sort. At the free throw line, the Celtics converted 24 of their 32 tries for a percentage of 75.0%. Boston finished the game having earned a 45.6% FG percentage (36 of 79) and knocked down 11 out of their 34 three-point attempts.

Jayson Tatum is one guy who was a major contributor in this contest. Tatum finished 47.6% from the floor and recorded 6 assists. He played 44 mins played and collected 8 boards. He ended up scoring 29 points on 10 out of 21 shooting.

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Boston enters this matchup with a mark of 51-31 for the season. They lose possession by turning the ball over 13.6 times per contest and as a group they are committing 18.5 fouls every game. As a unit, Boston is snagging 46.1 boards per game and has totaled 2,036 assists for the year, which ranks 14th in the NBA in terms of passing. The Celtics are hitting 35.6% on shots from 3-point land (1,085 of 3,044) and 81.6% from the charity stripe. They are averaging 111.8 points per contest (12th in the league) while hitting 46.6% from the floor.

On the defensive end, the Celtics are forcing their opponents into 13.8 turnovers per game and they draw 19.4 fouls. They are currently ranked 1st in the league in giving up assists to the opposition with 1,773 conceded so far this season. The Celtics are allowing a shooting percentage of 43.4% (3,137 of 7,221) and they relinquish 43.7 rebounds per game as a team. They surrender 33.9% on shots from downtown while they are 1st in basketball in points per game allowed (104.5).

In Game 1 the Heat were able to collect 30 defensive rebounds and 9 offensive rebounds for a total of 39 for this game. They coughed up the ball 12 times, while earning 10 steals for this contest. The Celtics earned 16 fouls in the matchup which took the Heat to the free throw line for 34 attempts. They were able to make 30 of the free throws for a rate of 88.2%. In regard to shooting from beyond the arc, Miami knocked down 10 of 30 attempts (33.3%). When the game finished, the Heat went 39 for 80 from the floor which gave them a rate of 48.8%. The Heat allowed the Celtics to knock down 36 of 79 attempts from the floor which had them at 45.6% for this game. They finished 32.4% from three-point range by going 11 of 34 and finished the contest at 24 out of 32 from the free throw line (75.0%). In regard to how they cleaned up the glass, Miami allowed Boston to grab 30 in all (8 on the offensive glass).

Jimmy Butler ended up being a major contributor for the Heat in this matchup. Butler recorded 41 points in his 41 mins on the hardwood and had 5 dimes in the matchup. He knocked down 12 of 19 in this matchup for a rate of 63.2%, and tallied 9 rebounds.

Miami has a record of 53-29 for the season. On the offensive side of the ball, the Heat are hitting on 46.7% from the floor, which is ranked 13th in the NBA. Miami has accumulated 9,022 points so far this season (110.0 per game) and they pull in 43.7 rebounds per game. Their rate of earning assists is at 25.5 times per contest (8th in the league) and they are giving up possession 14.6 times per game. The Heat have committed 20.5 fouls per game while shooting 80.8% from the free throw line.

The Heat are ranked 4th in basketball in PPG given up with 105.6. They are forcing 15.0 turnovers on a nightly basis and have allowed teams to shoot 44.7% from the floor (4th in the league). The Miami defense allows 33.9% on 3-point attempts (1,064 of 3,138) and their opposition knocks down 77.9% of their free throw shots. They have given up 23.3 assists and 41.7 rebounds every game, which is ranked 4th and 2nd in the league.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Boston (+5)

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