Heat vs. Celtics Series Odds, Eastern Conference Finals Schedule, Picks and Predictions

Heat vs. Celtics Series Odds

Although the Miami Heat are the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and have home-court advantage in the series, the oddsmakers have made the Boston Celtics the favorites to advance to the NBA Finals. 

Both teams are pretty healthy going into the series — it should be fun to see the best in the East go at it at full strength.

Heat vs. Celtics Betting Preview

• Head-to-Head Regular-Season Record: Celtics 2-1
• Heat Regular-Season Record: 53-29
• Celtics Regular-Season Record: 51-31

Miami Heat

The Heat are coming off a 4-2 series win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Miami took both of the first two games in the series fairly easily while Sixers star Joel Embiid was sidelined with a right orbital fracture. 

Jimmy Butler is the clear main man on offense, averaging nearly 29 points per game in the playoffs. But he has a significant cast of contributors with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Max Strus and Victor Oladipo all averaging in double figures. 

The Heat seem to have been a forgotten team this season and into the playoffs, just going about their business finishing as the top seed in the East. Meanwhile, all the attention was on the Celtics, Suns and Warriors — as well as the struggles of the Nets and Lakers. 

This trend of borderline disrespect from the fans and media has continued into this series. The Heat are fairly significant underdogs despite having a better regular-season record than the Celtics.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics started the season slow and were a fringe playoff team as late as January, but have been the hottest team in the NBA since then. 

After sweeping Brooklyn, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks gave them all they could handle but Jayson Tatum stepped up in Game 6 and Game 7 to solidify his superstar status. 

Tatum is averaging more than 18 points per game and, along with Jaylen Brown, forms one of the most dynamic wing combos in the league. However, the Celtics’ calling card may be their defense.

Led by Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, the Boston defense has swarmed, hounded and bothered first Kevin Durant and then Antetokounmpo. 

Heat vs. Celtics Series Schedule

• Game 1: Celtics @ Heat – Tuesday May 17, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Celtics @ Heat – Thursday May 19, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Heat @ Celtics – Saturday May 21, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 4: Heat @ Celtics – Monday May 23, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 5: Celtics @ Heat – Wednesday May 25, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. ET (if needed)
• Game 6: Heat @ Celtics – Friday May 27, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. ET (if needed)
• Game 7: Celtics @ Heat – Sunday May 29, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. ET (if needed)

How Many Games Will Heat vs. Celtics Series Go?

Heat vs. Celtics Series Pick

My official NBA betting pick for this series is to take the Heat +1.5 games, which is -135 at Caesars.

I feel the Heat are seriously undervalued here. Add in home-court advantage and I see them taking this to seven games.

As you’ll see with my prediction below, I think the Celtics can win that Game 7, but to me it’s more likely the Heat win the series than lose in six or fewer games.

Pick: Heat +1.5 Games | -135 at Caesars

Heat vs. Celtics Series Prediction

I am going to try and thread the needle with my exact prediction by picking the Celtics to win in seven games at +500 odds at Caesars.

I believe this series goes seven games (which would cash the Heat +1.5 pick) and the Celtics have proven they can win with their backs against the wall on the road.

Pick: Celtics To Win In 7 | +500 at Caesars