The No. 8 seed Miami Heat are hosting the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics in a prime-time Game 4 showdown on Monday. With Boston up 2-1, this contest can greatly shift this 2024 NBA playoffs series in the Celtics' favor with a win. The Heat went 22-19 at home during the regular season, while Boston had a 27-14 record on the road. Terry Rozier (neck), Jimmy Butler (knee), and Josh Richardson (shoulder) are all out for the Heat.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The Celtics are 10.5-point favorites in the latest Celtics vs. Heat odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 203.5. Before making any Heat vs. Celtics picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the third week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 92-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Heat and just locked in its picks and Game 4 predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Heat vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. Heat spread: Boston -10.5
- Celtics vs. Heat over/under: 203.5 points
- Celtics vs. Heat money line: Boston -526, Miami +391
- BOS: The Celtics are 15-5 in their last 20 games on the road
- MIA: The Heat are 5-10 ATS in their past 15 games at home
- Celtics vs. Heat picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
One of the top reasons Boston is a tough team to beat is due to its depth. Forward Jaylen Brown generates an impact every time he steps onto the court as he knows how to create scoring opportunities for himself and others. He thrives driving down the lane and is producing 24 points, eight rebounds, and 2.3 assists in the playoffs. Brown's finished with 22-plus points in consecutive games.
Center Kristaps Porzingis is a unique difference maker. He stands at 7-foot-2, which allows him to hover around the basket. He is a stout defender and a smooth scorer who uses his crisp jumper to space the floor. Porzingis is supplying 14 points, 5.7 rebounds, and two blocks per contest in the postseason. Additionally, he's making 41% of his 3-pointers. In his last outing, Porzingis had 18 points and five boards. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Heat can cover
The Heat go as center Bam Adebayo goes. Adebayo brings plenty of energy on both ends of the floor. The 26-year-old is able to dominate from the mid-range area to the paint consistently. Thus far in the first round, Adebayo has logged 21.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. In Miami's Game 2 victory, he racked up 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Guard Tyler Herro gives the squad an athletic scorer on the perimeter. Herro owns a sweet jumper to stretch out defenses but is fearless in attacking the lane. The 24-year-old also has great vision as a playmaker. He's second on the team in points (16.7) with a team-high 6.7 assists per game in the 2024 NBA playoffs. His best performance came in Game 2, as Herro had 24 points and 14 assists. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Heat vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 210 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in 60% of simulations. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Heat, and which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Heat vs. Celtics spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 92-61 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.