The Boston Celtics will visit the Miami Heat on Friday, March 14 at Kaseya Center. Boston enters the game with a 47-19 record, good for second place in the Eastern Conference. Miami holds a 29-36 record, putting them in ninth place and currently outside the playoff picture. Boston leads the season series 2-0, winning the most recent matchup 103-85 on February 10.
Boston is one of the NBA’s best teams and has gone 15-4 in their last 19 games. The Heat, on the other hand, have struggled lately with a five-game losing streak. Miami is 8-23 against teams with winning records this season, which shows how difficult this matchup could be for them.
Celtics Preview – Can the Three-Point Shooting Stay Hot?
The Celtics rely heavily on their three-point shooting, attempting 63 threes in their recent loss to the Thunder. Boston is first in the NBA in three-pointers made per game (17.8) and three-point attempts (48.3). Even with a cold shooting night in their last outing, the Celtics still made 20 shots from deep.
Jayson Tatum continues to lead Boston with 27.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and a career-best 5.9 assists per game. Jaylen Brown adds 23 points and is also recording a career-high 4.7 assists. Without Kristaps Porzingis, Boston relied on Al Horford to step up at the center. Horford is averaging 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds while adding key defensive presence.
Guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday provide strong two-way play. White averages 16.7 points and is shooting 39.5% from three. Holiday brings steady defense and experienced ball-handling. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser are key contributors off the bench. Pritchard is hitting 41.7% from deep while averaging 14.1 points. Hauser is shooting 39.9% from three and recently had a career-high 33 points in a win over Utah.
Heat Preview – Struggling to Find Momentum
Miami has been unable to stop their current five-game skid. The Heat are 8-23 against teams with winning records and face a tough challenge against Boston. Miami’s recent loss to the Clippers saw Tyler Herro score 31 points, but the Heat still fell 119-104.
Herro leads the Heat in scoring at 20.7 points per game. Bam Adebayo is second on the team with 19.2 points while adding 10.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Adebayo has been Miami’s best defensive presence, but the team struggles to score consistently. Miami averages 110.6 points per game, which ranks near the bottom of the NBA.
Miami’s bench production has been limited with key injuries to Nikola Jović and Dru Smith. Rookie Pelle Larsson has provided some energy, earning praise from head coach Erik Spoelstra for his hustle plays. Despite the effort, Miami’s offense is still inconsistent, making it tough to keep pace with Boston’s scoring power.
Key Stats and Matchup Trends
- Boston has won 9 of the last 10 matchups against Miami.
- The Celtics are 7-3 against the spread (ATS) in those games.
- Miami has failed to cover in four of its last five games.
- Boston is 24-7 on the road this season, while Miami is 15-16 at home.
- The Celtics rank seventh in the NBA in scoring at 116.8 points per game.
- Miami’s defense allows 110.6 points per game, ranking seventh in the NBA.
Betting Prediction
Boston is favored in this matchup, and for good reason. The Celtics have consistently beaten Miami, winning their last three meetings by an average of 19 points. Miami’s offense has struggled in recent games, and their inability to keep pace with Boston’s shooting is a concern.
Boston’s depth, especially with shooters like Pritchard and Hauser coming off the bench, gives them a major advantage. Miami may slow the pace to limit Boston’s scoring chances, but the Celtics’ offensive weapons should still control the game. Expect Boston to win and cover the spread.
Pick: Boston Celtics -8.5
