Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Prediction, 5/25/2023 Preview and Pick

Game: Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics

Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Miami (+8)

The Boston Celtics will take on the Miami Heat at TD Garden on Thursday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat lead 3-1. Miami opens this game as 8-point dogs from Vegas oddsmakers. The total is 215.

The Heat took a loss by a final of 116-99 in Game 4. Miami finished the game having earned a 43.6% field goal percentage (34 of 78) and buried 8 of their 32 three-point attempts. From the free throw line, the Heat made 23 of 28 shots for a percentage of 82.1%. With regard to grabbing boards, they compiled a total of 44 with 12 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 18 assists for the matchup in addition to creating 10 turnovers and getting 5 steals. With respect to defending, Miami allowed 51.2% from the field on 43 out of 84 shooting. Boston earned 28 assists and had 8 steals in this matchup. Additionally, Boston pulled down 39 rebounds (7 offensive, 32 defensive) and got 2 blocks. Boston finished 66.7% at the free throw line by knocking down 12 of 18 attempts. They knocked down 18 out of their 45 shots from three-point range. In the matter of fouls, the Heat ended up with 18 while the Celtics finished the game with 24 fouls.

Jimmy Butler is someone who had an impact for the matchup. He finished with 29 points on 9 of 21 shooting. He played for 39 minutes and grabbed 9 boards. Butler finished the game at 42.9% from the field and also totaled 5 assists.

Get all of our NBA Picks Tonight

Miami will enter this game with a win-loss record of 44-38 on the year. They cough up possession 13.5 times per game and as a group are committing 18.5 fouls per game. As a unit, Miami is snagging 40.6 rebounds per game and has accumulated 1,955 assists for the campaign, which has them ranked 25th in the league in terms of passing the ball. The Heat are shooting 34.4% on three-point attempts (980 of 2,852) and 83.1% from the charity stripe. They average 109.5 points per game (30th in the league) while hitting 46.0% from the field.

On the defensive end, the Heat are able to force 15.7 turnovers every game and they draw 20.0 fouls. They are 14th in basketball in giving up assists to the opposition with 2,097 surrendered for the campaign. The Heat are allowing and opponent field goal percentage of 48.2% (3,288 of 6,822) and they surrender 41.8 boards per contest as a unit. They are giving up 36.7% on 3-point attempts and they are 2nd in the league in points per game allowed (109.8).

Concerning attacking the glass in Game 4, Boston permitted Miami to snag 44 in total (12 offensive). They finished 25.0% from beyond the perimeter via 8 of 32 and finished the contest at 23 out of 28 from the free throw line (82.1%). The Celtics allowed the Heat to bury 34 out of their 78 attempts from the field which had them shooting 43.6% in the game. Overall, the Celtics ended up shooting 43 out of 84 from the field which gave them a percentage of 51.2%. Concerning shooting from downtown, Boston converted 18 of 45 attempts (40.0%). They were able to bury 12 of the free throw attempts for a percentage of 66.7%. The Heat were called for 18 fouls in this contest which got the Celtics to the free throw line for 18 tries. They also gave up possession 10 times, while getting 8 steals for the contest. The Celtics were able to pull down 32 defensive boards and 7 offensive boards for a total of 39 for the contest.

Jayson Tatum was important for the Celtics for the matchup. Tatum had 33 points in his 42 minutes on the court and totaled 7 dimes for the contest. He made 14 out of 22 in this matchup for a rate of 63.6%, and accounted for 11 rebounds.

Boston has a win-loss mark of 57-25 so far this season. The Celtics are committing 18.8 fouls every game and they hit 81.2% from the charity stripe. They are dishing out assists 26.7 times per contest (7th in the NBA) and they lose possession via turnover 13.4 times per game. Boston has accounted for 9,671 pts for the year (117.9 per contest) and they grab 45.3 boards per contest. As an offense, the Celtics are hitting on 47.5% from the floor, which ranks 14th in basketball.

The Boston defense surrenders 34.5% on shots from behind the 3-point line (954 of 2,763) and their opposition knocks down 76.9% of their free throw shots. They relinquish 23.1 dimes and 44.0 rebounds per game, which ranks 2nd and 18th in basketball. The Celtics on the defensive side of the court are 5th in basketball in points per game surrendered with 111.4. They are forcing their opponents into 12.7 TO's per game and allow teams to shoot 46.3% from the floor (5th in basketball).

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Boston (-8)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here