Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat Picks and Predictions December 2nd 2024

Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat December 2nd 2024

At 7:30 ET, the Miami Heat (9-9, 6th in the East) will take on the Boston Celtics (16-4, 2nd in the East) at TD Garden. The Celtics are currently favored by 10.5 points and the over/under line is set at 220.5.

This game will be televised on NBCS and is a matchup between two Eastern Conference teams. The Heat are 2nd in the Southeast Division, while the Celtics are 1st in the Atlantic Division.

Heat vs. Celtics Key Information

The Heat fell to 9-9 on the season after a 119-116 loss to the Raptors on Sunday. Miami, who were -5 point favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 235, surpassing the pre-game O/U line of 221.5 by 13.5 points.

Toronto went on a 10-0 run early, stretching the score from 22-17 to 32-17. Miami responded by winning the 2nd quarter 36-31, but the Raptors took the 3rd quarter 33-27. The Heat made a push in the 4th, outscoring Toronto 29-21, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Tyler Herro led the Heat with 31 points and 6 threes in their 119-116 loss to the Raptors, shooting 56.2% from the field and 50% from deep. He scored 13 points in the 1st quarter and added 9 more in the 4th. Terry Rozier and Jimmy Butler each contributed 17 points, with Rozier hitting 3 threes.

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As a team, Miami made 15 threes, shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc and 44.3% overall. Butler shot 66.7% from the field, while Rozier added 9 points in the 2nd quarter and 5 more in the 4th.

Defensively, the Heat struggled through the first three quarters, giving up 34, 31, and 33 points, respectively, before tightening up in the 4th, where they allowed just 21 points. Overall, they gave up 119 points on 53% shooting from the field.

Miami did a good job defending the three-point line, holding the Raptors to 10 made threes on 34% shooting. They also sent Toronto to the free-throw line 20 times, where they made 15. The Heat finished with 11 steals and 4 blocks.

Boston’s record dropped to 16-4 after a 115-111 road loss to the Cavaliers on Sunday. The Celtics, who were +1.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 226 points fell just short of the 229.5-point O/U line.

Boston appeared to be in control after a strong 3rd quarter, outscoring Cleveland 35-21. However, the Celtics couldn’t hold onto their 84-72 lead heading into the 4th, where they were outscored 43-27.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points in their 115-111 loss to the Cavaliers, shooting 44.4% from the field and hitting 4 threes at the same percentage. Payton Pritchard added 24 points, and Kristaps Porzingis contributed 21, with both players connecting on 3 three-pointers.

Boston shot 40% from the field and 34.7% from beyond the arc, making 17 threes. Tatum scored 17 points in the 3rd quarter, while Pritchard added 17 in the 4th.

The Celtics put together three strong defensive quarters but couldn’t hold off the Cavaliers in the 4th, giving up 43 points in a 115-111 loss. Boston allowed Cleveland to shoot 48% from the field overall.

Boston struggled to defend the three-point line, where Cleveland hit 17 threes at a 47% clip. The Celtics sent the Cavaliers to the line 25 times, where they made 20 free throws. Boston finished with 11 steals and 6 blocks.

As the underdogs with a spread of +10.5, we recommend going with the Heat on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 220.5, and our model projects the Heat and Celtics to reach a combined total of 231 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

Celtics, Heat Look to Bounce Back from Losses

The Boston Celtics will look to avoid back-to-back losses when they host the Miami Heat on Monday at TD Garden.

Celtics’ Streak Snapped in Cleveland

Boston (12-3) had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a 115-111 loss to Cleveland on Sunday night. The Celtics were without two of their key starters, Jaylen Brown (illness) and Derrick White (foot). Brown, who averages 24.7 points per game, is the team’s second-leading scorer, while White contributes 18.3 points per game.

Despite the absence of these key players, Jayson Tatum led the way with 33 points, and Payton Pritchard added 24, helping the Celtics build a 93-81 lead in the fourth quarter. However, they couldn’t hold on as Cleveland rallied in the final minutes to secure the win.

“I thought at the end of the third, beginning of the fourth, we missed four or five open shots and got some empty possessions,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “They made more plays than us down the stretch, but I think it started with those empty possessions.”

The Celtics shot just 40.0% from the field (38 of 95) in the loss, and Mazzulla acknowledged that the team struggled against Cleveland’s defense, especially with their rim protectors. He emphasized the need for better spacing and more efficient shooting in similar situations moving forward.

“We have to find different ways when playing against a team that has two rim protectors and is physical,” Mazzulla said. “It’s about getting to the right spacing and looking for the shot that we want.”

Heat Seek Bounce Back After Narrow Loss to Toronto

The Miami Heat (9-9) also come into Monday’s game looking to bounce back from a loss, after falling 119-116 to Toronto on Sunday. Tyler Herro had a strong performance with 31 points, including 6 of 12 from three-point range. However, his missed three-pointer with 29 seconds left, which could have tied the game, ended Miami’s two-game winning streak.

Jimmy Butler, who added 17 points in the loss, appeared to suffer a knee injury late in the game while being fouled on a layup. He left the game with 24.2 seconds remaining and expressed uncertainty about his availability for Monday’s game.

“I’m cool. Banged up. Ain’t nothing new,” Butler said after the game. “I don’t know if I’ll play against Boston. We’ll see how I feel wherever I wake up in the morning, get all the treatment that I can get, and hopefully I’m ready to rock.”

Bam Adebayo also contributed with 13 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, but Miami’s defense struggled, allowing a season-high 68 points in the paint. The Heat will need to tighten up defensively as they look to snap their own two-game losing streak.

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Key Storylines

• Injury Concerns: The Celtics will be without two of their star players, Brown and White, while Miami’s Butler is a game-time decision due to his knee injury.
• Defensive Struggles: Both teams have had defensive issues in recent games, with Boston allowing Cleveland to rally late and Miami giving up a high number of points in the paint against Toronto.
• Herro’s Scoring: Tyler Herro has been on a hot streak, scoring 20 or more points in 12 of Miami’s first 18 games, and will need to continue his strong play for the Heat to compete.

Looking Ahead

Monday’s matchup will kick off a four-game home stand for the Celtics, and both teams will be eager to get back to winning ways after tough losses. The Heat will need to tighten up their defense and potentially adjust to Butler’s injury status, while the Celtics will hope for a more complete team effort with their key players sidelined.