Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics 5/23/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions
Contents
Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics Matchup Preview (5/23/22)
The Miami Heat did not take long to right the ship in this series; they jumped back out to a one-game series lead after an impressive road win in Game Three. Miami was without Jimmy Butler for a good portion of the game due to a minor knee injury, but Bam Adebayo and company stepped up and executed on offense. Additionally, the Celtics seemed to struggle to gain serious traction until the fourth quarter, but it was too late by then. They also suffered a couple of minor injuries, including a shoulder injury to Jayson Tatum and an ankle injury to Marcus Smart. Both players toughed it out and finished the game, but that does not mean they will be ready to go for Game Four. Take a look at further analysis for this game below and see which team I will be backing for this matchup!
Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics Betting Odds
Assuming that Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, and Robert Williams (the biggest question mark) can give it a go, I see no way that the Boston Celtics will lose another one at home in Game Four. Boston has shown an extraordinary level of maturity throughout these playoffs and does not tend to let one loss define it for the rest of the series.
The spread currently sits at 6.5 points in favor of the Celtics, which feels like a lot; however, it is a must-win game for the Boston Celtics, and they are at home. If Boston goes down 3-1 and only plays one more home game in this series (Game Six), I don’t think anyone likes its chances to move on to the Finals. Both teams are banged up, so make sure to check the injury report until game time. You don’t want to get stuck with an unfavorable spread because a key player like Tatum, Smart, Butler, or Williams got scratched minutes before tip-off. For now, I will stick with Boston against the spread, but I’ll keep my eyes open for any last-minute scratches.
If you're in a state with legal sports betting, you can bet on this game! Lineups has exclusive new sign up bonuses from the top legal Sportsbooks online.
How To Watch
Date: 5/23/22
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Arena: TD Garden – Boston, MA
Channel: ABC
Live Stream Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics Free Online: Watch Every NBA Game
You can stream this game online for free. You can get a free 7-day trial and live stream NBA games from any device. Click the banner below and start watching.
Miami Heat Starting Lineup
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Max Strus
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: P.J. Tucker
C: Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat Analysis
The Miami Heat are merely two games from heading back to their second NBA Finals appearance in the past three seasons. Miami has been highly regarded recently for its winning culture under Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra; it also helps the Heat have had Jimmy Butler on their team. Butler has made all the difference for Miami since arriving in 2019. Unfortunately for the Heat, Butler suffered a minor knee injury in Game Three, and his status is still up in the air for Game Four. Until the last game, Butler averaged 30 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game in these playoffs. Without Butler, the Heat will struggle, especially on the offensive end. Miami survived in Game Three due to an impressive performance from center Bam Adebayo. Bam has been passive throughout the playoffs; however, when it mattered most, and his offense was needed, he stepped up. Still, Miami will need Jimmy Butler for these next few games if it wants to slide past the talented Boston Celtics and make the NBA Finals once again.
Boston Celtics Starting Lineup
PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Grant Williams
C: Al Horford
Boston Celtics Analysis
A late fourth-quarter push did not quite result in a win for the Boston Celtics on their home floor in Game Three. The main cause for the C’s untimely loss was a massive discrepancy in turnovers between them and the Miami Heat; they finished with 23 while Miami only turned it over eight times. Miami executed and often scored in transition off of the turnovers. It also did not help that Jayson Tatum had another atrocious game, similar to his Game Three outing against Milwaukee in the Conference Semi-Finals. Perhaps, Game Threes are just bad luck for him. Regardless, Boston needs him healthy as well as Marcus Smart and Robert Williams in Game Four to secure a crucial win. Williams’ absence was felt in the form of an awe-inspiring game from Bam Adebayo; he went for 31 points, ten rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
